Buffalo animal. Buffalo lifestyle and habitat

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The African buffalo is a powerful, strong, and very formidable animal. In Africa, many people die every year as a result of buffalo attacks. These ungulates are second in power and danger only to the huge Nile crocodiles and hippopotamuses. It is worth noting that along with power and danger, he is quite vulnerable. It is the largest representative of all existing ungulates. African black buffaloes are also called Kaffir buffalos.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: African buffalo

The African buffalo is a representative of the chordate artiodactyl mammals. Belongs to the bovid family, separated into a separate subfamily and genus. The predecessor of the modern African buffalo is a bovid ungulate, similar to the wildebeest.

The animal existed on the territory of modern Asia already 15 million years ago. From it came the line of bovids Simatheriuma. About 5 million years ago, an ancient ungulate of the genus Ugandax appeared. In the initial period of the Pleistocene, another ancient genus Syncerus originated from it. It was he who gave rise to the modern African buffalo.

With the appearance of the first ancient buffaloes, more than 90 species of these majestic animals existed on the territory of modern Africa. Their habitat was huge. They lived throughout the entire African continent. Also found in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Subsequently, they were exterminated by humans, and in the process of developing the territory they were forced out from the entire territory of the Sahara, and remained in small quantities only in the southern regions. Conventionally, they can be divided into two subspecies: savannah and forest. The first is distinguished by the presence of 52 chromosomes, the second has 54 chromosomes.

The most powerful and largest individuals live in the eastern and southern regions of the African continent. Smaller individuals live in the northern regions. The smallest species, the so-called dwarf buffalo, is found in the central region. In the Middle Ages, another subspecies existed in Ethiopia - the mountain buffalo. At the moment, it is considered completely extinct.

Behavior

In the north of Tanzania there is a national park near Lake Manyero. It is here that the largest population of these herbivores is found. Animals are attracted to the spacious pastures located in the green area between the lake and the mountain slopes. Some adult bulls do not connect their lives with the laws of the herd, preferring an independent existence. Its impressive size and large, strong antlers are a sufficient reason to feel safe.

Decisions important for the herd are made by high-ranking females, and controversial issues are resolved through a special form of voting. Closer to lunch, the herd lays down to process the morning feed. From time to time, the dominant females rise to their feet, turning in a certain direction, and the rest closely follow them. As a result, the herd will move further in the direction chosen by the “majority of voters.”

At the same time, it is time for procedures related to personal hygiene. Local species of woodpeckers and herons are happy to provide their skinning services in exchange for insects collected under the fur. Thus, birds help buffaloes regulate populations of parasitic insects that can carry pathogens. The immune system of an adult buffalo can cope with almost all common diseases. However, weakened individuals can become victims of parasites.

Appearance and features

Photo: Animal African buffalo

The appearance of the African buffalo impresses with its power and strength. The height of this animal reaches 1.8-1.9 meters. The body length is 2.6 – 3.5 meters. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced, females are smaller and much lighter than males.

How much does an African buffalo weigh?

The body weight of one adult individual reaches 1000 kilograms, and even more. It is noteworthy that these ungulates increase body mass throughout their lives.

The older the buffalo, the more it weighs. The animals have a long, thin tail. Its length is almost a third of the length of the body and is equal to 75-100 cm. The body of representatives of the bovid family is strong and very powerful. The limbs are small, but very strong. This is necessary to support the enormous body weight of the animal. The front part of the body is larger and more massive than the back, therefore the front limbs are visually thicker than the hind limbs.

Video: African buffalo

The head is slightly lowered relative to the line of the spine, visually appearing low-set. It has an elongated, square shape. Of particular note are the horns. In females they are not as large in size as in males. In males, they reach more than one and a half meters in length. They are not straight, but curved. In the forehead area the horns grow together and form a very thick and strong shield. On the head there are small but wide ears, which are always lowered down due to the massive horns.

The thick horny shield in the lub area serves as reliable protection and can withstand even a gunshot.

African buffalos have very large, black eyes that are located close to the front of the head. Tears almost always flow from the eyes, which attracts a large number of insects. This serves as an additional irritant to already aggressive animals. The animal's hair is thick and dark, almost black in color. The animal's skin is rough, thick, and is designed for reliable protection from external mechanical damage.

Females have a much lighter coat color, dark brown or reddish in color. The thickness of the skin of an adult exceeds 2 centimeters! Adult animals over 10 years of age develop spots on their bodies, and as they age, their hair falls out. Ungulates have a very acute sense of smell and hearing, but poor vision.

Domestic bulls

The Indian buffalo was domesticated several thousand years ago. Images of buffalo-like animals can be found on ancient Greek vases and Sumerian tiles. Distributed throughout the southern territory of the Eurasian continent, bulls are still preserved as livestock in both southern Europe and Southeast Asia. They were brought to Hawaii, Japan, and Latin America.

A local breed descended from Indian wild bulls has long lived in the Caucasus region. Currently, breeding work is being carried out to improve local animals: increasing meat yield and improving the milk quality of buffaloes. Traditionally, the population produced gatig or yogut, kaymag (specially processed heavy cream) and ayran from milk. Currently, industrial recipes for the production of different types of cheese are being developed, because it is known that Italian mozzarella, according to the original recipe, is made from buffalo milk.

Domestic bulls are common in Bulgaria (Indo-Bulgarian breeding group), and in Italy and the Balkan region. They are bred in Transcarpathia and the Lviv region (Ukraine). Both meat and milk of buffaloes are valuable food products.

In India, where the meat of ordinary cows is considered prohibited, domestic buffaloes serve as a source of this protein food. The ban does not apply to domesticated bulls, and they are bred as both dairy and beef cattle. In Southeast Asia and Latin America, powerful, hardy animals are the best draft force. With the help of bulls, people cultivate rice fields, harnessing the buffalo to primitive plows and harrows. In mountainous or swampy areas where horses cannot work, they are used to transport a variety of loads.

Domestic animals very often interbreed with wild buffaloes on their own, violating the purity of the latter's blood. Already rare, wild bulls lose their biological exclusivity, producing offspring with a mixed genotype. There are only about 1 thousand purebred wild bulls left.

Buffalo productivity

In almost all main indicators of productivity, buffaloes are significantly inferior to ordinary cows. Thus, the slaughter yield usually does not exceed 47%, while for ordinary cattle this figure fluctuates between 50-60%. At the same time, the characteristics of the meat are very mediocre, to say the least.

The meat of adult buffaloes is quite tough and also gives off a strong musk, so it cannot be used for food like regular beef. It must either be deeply processed (for example, to make sausages), or used to feed other animals (for example, to make dog food). But the meat of young animals is more or less similar to beef, although it is noticeably inferior to it in taste. By the way, wild buffalos in Africa and Australia are objects of sport hunting, but their meat also has no special value.

Average milk yield is also not particularly encouraging - 1400-1700 liters per lactation, which is 2-3 times lower than that of ordinary meat and dairy cows (not to mention purely dairy breeds). However, the advantage of buffaloes is that their milk is very fatty. While regular cow's milk contains 2 to 4% fat, buffalo milk contains 8%. In fact, buffaloes do not even produce milk, but low-fat cream.

Buffalo skins are of some value. The average weight of raw hides per animal is 25-30 kg with an average thickness of about 7 mm.

Features of keeping buffaloes

According to the conditions of detention, the Asian black buffalo is as close as possible to an ordinary cow. He grazes on the same pastures, lives in an ordinary cowshed and, in general, differs little from a cow. At the same time, among cattle breeders there were two diametrically opposed opinions regarding the nature of buffaloes.

Some argue that buffaloes are incredibly capricious and even aggressive: they recognize only one owner and allow themselves to be milked only by him. But even a beloved owner often has to persuade his ward to share milk. Others, on the contrary, argue that buffaloes are much more obedient than cows, and they become even more attached to their owner than dogs.

Both the Indonesian dwarf buffalo and the domesticated Indian buffalo readily eat the coarsest and least valuable feed, which is usually unsuitable for cows. For example, straw and corn stalks can be fed to these animals. In addition, recall that domestic buffaloes are called “river type.” They can be safely grazed in marshy and wooded pastures where regular cows are not grazed. Buffaloes are very fond of coastal vegetation (reeds, sedges), and also eat nettles, ferns and even pine needles without any problems.

In swampy areas, where it is difficult to raise ordinary cattle, buffaloes feel very comfortable. Moreover, if there is at least a small body of water nearby, they will willingly swim in it in the summer heat.

It is believed that buffaloes tolerate cold well, but given the southern origin of this species, this should not be abused. In regions with cold winters, animals definitely need a warm permanent barn.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Buffaloes

Traditionally, the term “cattle” refers to ordinary cows and bulls, but the domesticated buffalo also belongs to this category of farm animals. And since cows are the main representative of this group, it makes sense to compare the advantages and disadvantages of buffaloes in relation to them.

The obvious advantages are:

1. High fat content of milk. The average fat content is just over 8%, and if certain feeding rules are followed, this figure can easily be increased to 10% or more. Thus, buffalo milk is an ideal raw material for the production of butter and cheese. If 30-35 liters of cow's milk are needed to produce 1 kg of butter, then only 10-15 liters of buffalo milk are needed. Thus, the low milk yield of buffaloes is fully compensated
2. Undemanding to feed. Cheap roughage, which is not suitable for cows, is readily eaten by buffaloes, which significantly reduces the cost of their maintenance. Especially in winter.
3. Good health. Buffaloes are significantly less susceptible to infectious diseases of cattle. In addition, they can live in humid, hot climates, making them a preferred cattle species in marshy areas. Especially in the south of the country.

However, the significantly greater popularity of cows in Russia has quite objective reasons.

Buffaloes have a number of significant disadvantages, due to which the vast majority of farmers prefer cows:

1. Small milk yield. Under similar housing and nutrition conditions, buffaloes produce 2-3 times less milk than meat and dairy cows, and 4-6 times less than dairy cows.
2. Tasteless meat. Although over the past decades, breeders have developed new breeds of buffalo, in which the taste characteristics of the meat have been significantly improved, beef is still much tastier.
3. Complex nature. According to reviews of many cattle breeders who have experience in breeding buffaloes, these animals are still more capricious and capricious than cows.

Where does the African buffalo live?

Photo: Buffalo in Africa

Black buffalos live exclusively on the African continent. The regions chosen for habitat are areas rich in water sources, as well as pastures, where dense green vegetation is present in large quantities. They live mainly in forests, savannas, or mountains. In some cases, they are able to climb mountains higher than 2,500 meters.

Just two centuries ago, African buffalos inhabited a vast territory that included all of Africa, and made up almost 40% of all ungulates existing in this territory. Today, the population of ungulates has sharply declined and their habitat has decreased.

Geographical regions:

• SOUTH AFRICA;
• Angola;
• Ethiopia;
• Benin;
• Mozambique;
• Zimbabwe;
• Malawi.

As a habitat, they choose an area that is significantly removed from places of human settlement. They often prefer to settle in dense forest areas, which are distinguished by a large number of bushes and impenetrable thickets. Animals perceive humans as a source of danger.

The main criterion for the area they choose as their habitat is the presence of bodies of water. Representatives of the bovid family prefer to settle away not only from humans, but also from other representatives of flora and fauna.

It is unusual for them to share territory with any other animals. The only exception is the birds, which are called buffaloes. They save animals from ticks and other blood-sucking insects. Birds practically live on the backs of these huge, formidable ungulates.

During periods of extreme heat and drought, animals tend to leave their usual habitat and overcome vast territories in search of food. Single animals living outside the herd are located in one territory and almost never leave it.

Breeding offspring

Lonely adult buffaloes sometimes join the herd in order to spend time in the company of females. The female is capable of producing offspring once every two years. The first year is spent bearing the fetus, and the second year is spent feeding the baby. The presence of a small calf near a nursing mother means that she is not yet ready to conceive this year. And an inexperienced male who neglects this rule can receive a severe rebuff.

During the rainy season, herds with young animals have to migrate a lot, overcoming water obstacles that appear in abundance at this time. Young calves often drown during the crossing or get separated from their mothers. It is very important for the lagging calf to find its mother in the herd, otherwise it will be deprived of food. In turn, the mother can easily come to terms with the loss of her baby, so she does not actively search for it.

Young calves are able to stand on their feet immediately after birth and follow their mother. This is very important because they may not have time to gather their strength at all. At first, the calf must eat very well in order to have enough strength to travel long distances. Full-fat buffalo milk can not only maintain the strength of the calf, but also contribute to its rapid development.

What does the African buffalo eat?

Photo: Buffalo

Representatives of the bovid family are herbivores. The main source of food is various types of vegetation. African bulls are considered quite finicky animals in terms of nutrition. They prefer certain types of plants. Even if there is a huge amount of green, fresh and succulent plants around, they will look for the food they love.

Each adult eats an amount of plant food per day equal to at least 1.5-3% of its own body weight. If the daily amount of food is less, there is a rapid decrease in body weight and weakening of the animal.

The main source of nutrition is green, succulent varieties of plants that grow near water bodies. Buffaloes have some peculiarities in the structure of their stomach. It consists of four chambers. As food arrives, the first chamber is filled first. As a rule, food gets there that is practically not chewed. It is then regurgitated and chewed thoroughly over a long period of time to fill the remaining chambers of the stomach.

Black buffaloes eat mainly in the dark. During the day they hide in the shade of forests and wallow in mud puddles. They can only go out to drink water. One adult consumes at least 35-45 liters of liquid per day. Sometimes, if there is a lack of green vegetation, dry bushes can serve as a food source. However, animals consume this type of vegetation very reluctantly.

Nutrition

Buffaloes feed mainly in the early morning and late evening, with the exception of Anoa, which grazes only in the morning. The diet includes the following components:

1. For Indian - large plants of the cereal family;
2. For African - various greens;
3. For dwarfs - herbaceous vegetation, shoots, leaves, fruits and even aquatic plants.

All buffalos have a similar digestion process to ruminants, where food is initially collected in the rumen of the stomach and semi-digested, regurgitated, then chewed again and swallowed again.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Animal African buffalo

African buffalos are considered herd animals. They tend to form strong, cohesive groups. The size of the group depends on the area where the animals live. On the territory of open savannas, the average herd size is 20-30 animals, and when living in a forest, no more than ten. With the onset of extreme heat and drought, smaller herds unite into one large group. Such groups number up to three hundred heads.

There are three types of animal groups:

• The herd includes males, females, and young calves.
• Old males over 13 years old.
• Juveniles aged 4-5 years.

Each individual performs its assigned role. Experienced, adult males scatter around the perimeter and guard the occupied territory. If the animals are not in danger and there is no danger, they can disperse over a long distance. If the bulls suspect or sense danger, they form a tight ring with females and young calves in the center. When attacked by predators, all adult males fiercely defend the weaker members of the group.

When angry, bulls are very scary. Huge horns are used for self-defense and when attacking. Having wounded their prey, they finish it off with their hooves, trampling it for several hours, until practically nothing remains of it. Black bulls can reach high speeds - up to 60 km/h, escaping from a chase, or vice versa, chasing someone. Lonely elderly males stray from the pack and lead a solitary lifestyle. They are especially dangerous. Young animals can also fight off the herds and create their own herd.

Black buffalos tend to be nocturnal. At night, they emerge from dense thickets and graze until morning. During the day, they hide from the scorching sun in forest thickets, take mud baths, or simply sleep. Animals leave the forest area only to drink water. The herd always chooses as its habitat an area that is located near a reservoir. It is unusual for him to go further than three kilometers from the reservoir.

African buffalos are excellent swimmers. They easily swim across a body of water when moving long distances in search of food, although they do not like to go deep into the water. The territory occupied by one group of herbivores does not exceed 250 square kilometers. When living in natural conditions, the African buffalo speaks sharply. Individuals of the same herd communicate with each other through movements of the head and tail.

The role of males

A favorite pastime of buffaloes is taking mud baths. Dirt frozen on the skin perfectly protects against blood-sucking parasites; when it falls off, it takes ticks with it. An adult bull that joins the herd immediately begins to take an active part in the life of the group. First of all, he pays attention to free females ready for fertilization. The female chooses a gentleman according to her status, and if he does not suit her, then she simply runs away.

Next, the male needs to keep an eye on his competitors, who must either retreat or put up worthy resistance. Although there are no serious battles between adult males, they determine their status in their youth and never return to this issue. But the goby’s most important duty is to monitor movements in the surrounding grass. In case of the slightest danger, he will be the first to raise the alarm and defend the herd.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: African buffalo

The mating season for African buffalos begins with the onset of March and lasts until the end of spring. Males often fight for the leadership position in the group, as well as the right to mate with the female they like. Despite the fact that the fights are quite scary, they rarely end in death. During this period, bulls tend to roar loudly, throw their heads up, and dig the ground with their hooves. The strongest males receive the right to enter into marriage. It often happens that one male enters into mating relationships with several females at once.

After mating, calves are born 10-11 months later. Females give birth to no more than one calf. Before giving birth, they leave the herd and look for a quiet, secluded place.

When the baby is born, the mother licks it thoroughly. The weight of a newborn is 45-70 kilograms. 40-60 minutes after birth, the calves are already following their mother back to the herd. African buffalo cubs tend to grow, develop and gain body weight quickly. During the first month of life, they drink at least five liters of mother's milk every day. With the beginning of the second month of life, they begin to try plant foods. They need breast milk until they are six to seven months old.

The cubs stay with their mother until they reach three or four years of age. Then the mother stops caring and patronizing them. Males leave the herd in which they were born to form their own, and females remain forever within its boundaries. The average life expectancy of a black buffalo is 17-20 years. In captivity, life expectancy increases to 25-30 years, and reproductive function is also preserved.

Prospects for breeding in Russia

Today, the main population of domestic buffalo in Russia is concentrated mainly within the North Caucasus Federal District, primarily in Dagestan. Here these animals are raised mainly by local residents, who also use buffaloes as draft animals. But there are no large farms specializing in buffalo in this region.

Outside the North Caucasus, buffaloes are bred only by a few enthusiasts. For central Russia, this species is an evolutionarily established set of individuals, characterized by a single ... livestock is so exotic that buffalo farms often become objects of journalistic materials on local television and newspapers.

With all this, it cannot be said that buffalo breeding is absolutely futile from a commercial point of view in Russia. Not at all. It has already been said above that buffalo milk is an excellent raw material for the production of butter and cheese. In addition, it should be recalled that the famous mozzarella cheese, according to the original recipe, should be made from buffalo milk.

Thus, it can be argued that the Russian market is ready to accept such a delicious and even scarce product as buffalo milk and dairy products based on it. The main thing is to initially take a competent approach to organizing the entire production process.

Natural enemies of the African buffalo

Photo: African buffalo versus lion

African buffalos are incredibly strong and powerful animals. In this regard, they have very few enemies in their natural habitat. Representatives of the family of bovid ungulates are capable of very bravely rushing to the rescue of wounded, sick, and weakened members of the group.

Buffalo's enemies:

• cheetah;
• leopard;
• spotted hyena;
• crocodile;
• a lion.

Natural enemies can easily include helminths and blood-sucking insects. They tend to parasitize on the body of animals, causing inflammatory processes. Buffaloes are saved from such parasites by birds that settle on the backs of huge animals and feed on these insects. Another way to escape parasites is to swim in mud puddles. Subsequently, the dirt dries, rolls up and falls off. Together with it, all parasites and their larvae also leave the animal’s body.

Another enemy of the majestic African buffalo is man and his activities. Nowadays buffalo hunting is less common, but in the past poachers exterminated these bulls in large quantities for their meat, horns and hides.

Record holder Lach

Arkansas had a record case in the 2000s. An African bull named Lach became famous for its incredible horns. The girth of the animal's horn exceeded 92 centimeters. The weight of each of them is 50 kilograms. The Guinness Book of Records recorded the record in 2003. In 2010, the bull Lach died during an illness.

Currently, the number of African Watussi is rapidly declining. This is primarily due to the fact that residents take all the milk from cows, leaving none for the young animals. The mortality of young individuals from hunger and malnutrition does not allow the population to grow at the required pace.

Tribal residents are gradually switching to keeping cows that produce the most milk.

Notable Facts

• The famous Italian mozzarella cheese is made from buffalo milk according to the correct recipe.
• In India, where the cow is a sacred animal for the majority of the population and is not subject to slaughter for meat, however, you can often find beef and veal on sale. This paradox is explained by the fact that the religious prohibition does not apply to buffaloes, therefore, nothing more than buffalo meat is sold under the name beef. It tastes different from real beef, and buffalo is much tougher than beef.
• In a number of places in Southeast Asia (some areas of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos), domestic buffalo fights are among the favorite folk pastimes.
• The tallest buffaloes are prepared for competitions long ago, trained and fattened in a special way.
• The buffalo fight takes place without human participation - the bulls are brought onto the site one against the other and butt until one runs away from the battlefield or shows undoubted signs of defeat (for example, falls at the feet of the winner). The fight is very rarely bloody - usually the buffaloes do not cause any serious damage to each other. In recent decades, buffalo fights have also become a popular spectacle for tourists.

Video

In its vastness, in addition to predators and other numerous animals, live various mammals - representatives of the so-called megafauna, whose appearance and size delight and awe. One of these four-legged animals is the African black buffalo.

African buffalos represent the power and wildness of the savannah. They, like mighty idols, roam the expanses of Africa, arousing admiration and respect.

The African buffalo is one of the most dangerous inhabitants of the African continent. These seemingly harmless animals kill more people in Africa than all the big cats combined. On the list of the most dangerous animals in Africa, the buffalo is second only to the Nile crocodile and hippopotamus.

The African buffalo or black buffalo (lat. Syncerus Caffer) is a large African mammal. Syncerus Caffer Caffer is the typical and largest subspecies, found in eastern and southern Africa.

The African buffalo is a large animal from the order of artiodactyls of the bovid family, belonging to the species of bulls. It is African buffaloes that are considered the largest of the bulls. The weight of some large males can exceed a ton. And the average weight of an adult varies between 750-900 kilograms. The impressive dimensions of the animal are also striking. The huge, dense body reaches a height of 1.8 and a length of 3-3.5 meters. The tail is about 80-100 cm long. Its dark skin is covered with coarse dark-colored hair, which thins with age. Therefore, old individuals look almost bald.

The body is stocky, the legs are short and strong, the head seems to be lowered all the time, as it is below the straight line of the back. The front is noticeably more powerful than the back, which is why the front hooves are also noticeably wider than the rear. Nature made sure that the animal’s legs could withstand the enormous weight of the body.

Buffalo ears are large and wide. The eyes of animals are large and intelligent, tear-producing. Often, under them, having taken a liking to the wet fur, various parasites and insects find a nest, causing inconvenience to the animal and annoying it with their presence. The vision of African bulls is poorly developed. In most cases, they navigate in space using smell and hearing.

But the horns of African buffalos are especially original. They - each about a meter long - grow together on the forehead, forming a kind of protective bone cover, so strong that it is difficult to pierce even with a hunting bullet. Females are much smaller than males in size, body density and color. Among them, the most common are reddish-brown individuals. Females have about a quarter smaller horns and do not grow together on the forehead.

The beast seems harmless in appearance, but it can be formidable and even dangerous. Looking at this animal, you immediately feel all its power and strength. No one can resist the onslaught of this headlong rushing colossus. Anyone who stands in her way will be mercilessly trampled.

This characteristic is most suitable for the Cape buffalo, which is the largest among the 5 subspecies of the African buffalo. It is found in the eastern and southern parts of the continent. It is distinguished not only by its size and menacing disposition, but also by its almost black color.

Since wild bulls are very variable in their population, there used to be about 90 subspecies of them. Now scientists classify only 5 subspecies of this animal.

Varieties of African buffalo:

* Cape. It is distinguished by its darkest color and particularly large size, as well as unprecedented ferocity.

* Senegalese. This subspecies is found in West Africa and is most often brown in color.

*Nile. This buffalo is a resident of Central Africa and lives in Sudan.

* Mountain. The mountain buffalo lives in East Africa.

*Dwarf buffalo

This is the smallest representative of African bulls. They live in forested areas of Central and Western Africa. Their height at the withers reaches only 120 centimeters, and their average weight is about 300 kilograms. Their color is more “colored” - red or reddish-brown. Because of this, they received their second name - red. They have tassels of fluffy fur near their ears.

This subspecies is so different from the rest that some researchers propose to distinguish it as a separate species. Their horns are small, rarely reaching even 40 centimeters in length and do not grow together. The mini buffalo's horns point upward and backward. Their most terrible natural enemy is the leopard.

In most cases, buffalo live in herds of hundreds of individuals and are located near water bodies and dense vegetation. Each herd can have up to sixty percent young animals. Herds of buffalo move strictly within the boundaries of their habitat. They prefer impenetrable tropical thickets and open savannas overgrown with grass and shrubs. One individual can consume about one hundred kilograms of fresh grass and juicy leaves per day. Buffaloes are very picky when it comes to food - they like to eat certain varieties and types of plants.

During hot hours, they stand under the shade of branchy trees or lie in mud pits, and with the onset of dusk and coolness they begin to graze, greedily eating grass.

Every day, African buffalos arrange a watering hole for themselves. According to some reports, they can drink up to 40 liters per day, and never go further than four kilometers from bodies of water. They do not like to be deep in water, although they swim very well - during the migration period, wild bulls can swim across fairly wide rivers. Buffaloes are always on guard, especially females, when grazing with calves. Their favorite pose is their head raised up with their horns thrown back.

Buffaloes gather in herds according to a certain pattern. Several adult and experienced individuals are located on the sides and carefully monitor the surrounding situation and, in case of danger, are the first to give a signal to move. They place all the young animals and calves in the center.

After the rainy season, when the entire savannah dresses in green, buffaloes begin to stay in small groups of 20-30 individuals. Each such group adheres to a strict hierarchy, headed by an experienced male.

These small herds can be divided into several types:

1) mixed, consisting of both males and females with cubs of different ages, which make up approximately half of the herd;

2) a herd of young bulls and cows 4-10 years of age;

3) a herd of old bulls, over 10 years old. The oldest individuals at some point leave the herd and begin to lead a solitary lifestyle.

Such singles have impressive sizes and the largest horns. They are very dangerous because they can attack for no apparent reason. But most often they are busy with other things - relaxing in the shade, plucking grass and moving around their area. When small groups of other buffalo appear on its territory, the individual is quite tolerant of them and does not drive them away from his territory, but on the contrary, joins them. But when the herd leaves, he remains. Locals call these bulls mbogo or dagga-boy.

These animals inhabit various biotopes. They live in forests, mountains and savannas. The main requirement for a habitat is the presence of a water source. Savannah inhabitants include Cape, Senegalese (lat. Sc brachyceros) and Nile (lat. S. c. aequinoctialis) buffaloes. The dwarf forest buffalo (Latin Syncerus caffer nanus) is the smallest subspecies, it is common in the forested regions of West and Central Africa, and mountain buffalo live in East Africa.

With the onset of the rainy season comes the mating season (March-May). Only the most “worthy” bulls have the right to mate, so ritual fights begin between males. The main goal is to intimidate the opponent. To do this, they throw back their heads, roar, snort, dig the ground with their hooves and everything in that spirit. If this does not work, then the “horn-attack” is used - the bulls collide their horns with such force from a running start that “chips fly”, that is, pieces of horns. The winner receives a prize - a buffalo ready for mating. Thus, one bull can “win” several females and acquire its own “harem”, to which it does not allow anyone. As a result, all females go to only the strongest and most experienced buffaloes, leaving no chance for young and old. At this time, the males are very ferocious and ready to rush at any opponent. If this does not come across, then the bull takes out all his revenge on the tree. Hunting them during this period is fraught with considerable danger. These buffalos are practically invulnerable. Excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell help him in this, but his vision lets them down a little.

After 10-11 months, almost at the beginning of the new mating season, the females “unitedly” go to give birth. They separate from the general herd and look for secluded places. The newborn calf will immediately be thoroughly licked by its mother and after 15 minutes it will quietly go to the herd with its mother. In Cape buffalo, calves are born weighing about 50-60 kilograms, while in other subspecies - about 40 kilograms.

During the first month of life, a calf can drink 5 liters of milk per day, so they grow very quickly. And by the age of one month they begin to try to pluck grass. But the milk feeding period still continues and lasts about six months. Sexual maturity in females occurs at the age of 3 years, and in males - only at 5-6 years. Males leave their parent herds. Females never leave the herd in which they were born. +Like many artiodactyls, the African buffalo has a 4-chambered stomach. Therefore, at first, the animal first of all tries to stuff the first section of the stomach to capacity, without chewing the plucked grass much. But during rest, having burped some of the food back into the mouth, the bull chews it thoroughly and sends the resulting mass to the next sections of the stomach. During the day, an animal can eat up to 2% of its own body weight.

Buffaloes are practically invulnerable. Excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell help him in this, but his vision lets them down a little. Buffaloes have few real enemies, since rarely does any animal dare to attack an animal of such enormous size and such unprecedented strength. True, kids straying from the herd can become prey for predators such as a lion, cheetah or crocodile. But even a pride of lions does not always cope with this task. The buffalo, without hesitation, uses its horns, which can easily rip open the offender’s stomach. And then he will trample on it for a couple of hours, leaving only a bloody mess there. Therefore, the main target of lions is calves, which can be easily separated from the herd. But where there are calves, there are also their mothers, who will fight for the life of their cub to the end. When defending against enemies, buffaloes come to mutual assistance, so the entire herd stands up to protect the calf. In defense, wild bulls become very aggressive. They often come to each other's rescue, covering the wounded and boldly defending themselves.

In addition to predators, buffaloes suffer greatly from another enemy - small blood-sucking parasites. Despite the thick skin, these animals are seriously spoiled by blood-sucking gadflies with their larvae and ticks. Some species of birds come to the aid of bulls in the fight against this scourge - wolves or buffaloes, which sit on their backs and begin to peck all the parasites from their skin. In open areas they quickly cope with their task, but in inaccessible places, such as the groin area or abdomen, parasites are difficult to get, so they accumulate there in dozens. In this case, the bulls get rid of them using mud baths. After drying, the dirt covers the mites with a hard, earthy shell and falls off along with them.

During the dry season, buffalo form large herds that can number hundreds, and in very rare cases, thousands of individuals. Each such herd has its own territory, reaching about 100-200 km2. This area must necessarily include pastures rich in vegetation and sources of water: rivers, lakes, etc. Buffaloes try not to move further than 10-15 kilometers from the water source.

As a member of the "Big Five" (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, buffalo), the African buffalo is a coveted hunting trophy. These animals have been hunted for centuries.

A few centuries ago, African buffaloes inhabited almost all the expanses of Africa, making up thirty-five percent of the total mass of large-hoofed four-legged animals. In our time, the number of animals has sharply decreased, and their habitat has narrowed to the southeastern region of the African continent. Most often, bulls are found in Angola, Ethiopia, Benin, South Africa, Rwanda, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Malawi, etc.

Huge harm was caused to buffaloes by people, especially during the 19th-20th centuries, when targeted and uncontrolled shootings of these wild animals were carried out in the savannahs. The local population widely used their meat and skins. Now hunting for them is strictly regulated, although this does little to prevent the gradual decline in their numbers.

If earlier they were found almost throughout Africa and in large quantities, now their numbers have noticeably decreased. They are found in numerous herds only in nature reserves and in those places where no human foot has yet reached. They try to avoid human habitations for many kilometers. They feel in their gut that they don’t expect anything good from this meeting.

The life expectancy of buffaloes in the wild rarely reaches twenty years, although in zoos and nurseries they can live up to twenty-five years or more.

Due to their unpredictable nature, buffalos can become quite dangerous to humans. These animals kill more than 200 people every year.

The African buffalo is most aggressive when it is injured or if one of the calves in the herd is attacked. If someone nevertheless decides to hunt this animal and does not hit it with the first shot (from a distance, as a rule, 50-60 meters), then they should prepare to die or run for a short time, since this animal runs at a speed of up to 57 km /h.

An angry buffalo will walk in circles and stalk its prey, waiting for the right moment to tear its opponent apart with its massive, thick horns. Now think about an angry group of African buffalo running at you at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour and that's when you remember its second name: the Black Death.

25 interesting facts about African buffalos:

1.Old animals are noticeable by white circles under the eyes.

2. In any case and at any time, a herd of buffaloes posts guards so that when danger approaches, the animals can organize a defense or escape.

3. These animals live both in open savannas and in dense forests. They can also wander up to 3000 meters into the mountains.

4. It is very rare for buffaloes to give birth to two calves, and even more so when they both survive.

5.African buffalos are known for killing lions and are capable of seeking out and killing lion cubs as preemptive punishment.

6. A buffalo is four times stronger than an ox, according to research by Dr. John Conde. He tested their towing capacity and this explains why the name 4x2 is often used in the automotive industry.

7. White calves are very rarely born to buffalos, but it does happen.

8.Buffaloes are excellent swimmers and often cross deep waters in search of better pasture.

9. These animals make sounds very rarely, although they have about two dozen different vocal signals.

10. The main habitat is savannas, where the largest concentrations of buffalo are found, where there is grassy soil and water.

11. African heroes can reach speeds of up to 55-60 km/h.

12. Some of them are also good swimmers, but they don’t like to swim and feel less confident in the water.

13. Buffaloes have an excellent memory; they can recognize their comrade, whom they have not seen for many years, tactile touches and affection help with this.

14.Descriptions of angry buffaloes are very often found in works of fiction by such authors as Mine Reid, Ernest Hemingway, Louis Boussenard and others.

15. The skin on the neck of the African buffalo reaches a thickness of 2 inches, thanks to which it is perfectly protected during battles for dominance in the herd with other bulls.

16. Most of the human victims of buffalo are hunters who decide to get a trophy in the African shroud.

17. Buffalo are known to ambush hunters after being wounded.

18. A similar thing happened in 2012 with 67-year-old Owain Lewis. A British man working as a professional hunter on a private game reserve in Zimbabwe was killed by a wounded buffalo when he tried to shoot it.

19. Owain Lewis tracked the animal for three days to finish off the wounded animal, but the animal outwitted and killed its attacker.

20. Paul Smith, owner of Chifuti Safaris in the lower Zambezi Valley, said Lewis was caught by surprise when an angry buffalo attacked him and threw him into the air.

21. Old males become very angry and harmful; after 10-12 years of living in a herd, they often separate and lead a solitary lifestyle.

22. Buffalo graze at night; under the scorching sun during the day, they prefer to lie down in the shade.

23. These animals, unlike some people, will never abandon their fellow tribesman in trouble. If a small calf is in danger from a predator, then the entire herd, led by huge old males, instantly comes to its defense. Rushing to help the victim, they are not even afraid of lions. A female buffalo protects her cub even at the cost of her life.

24. Buffaloes attack people who have harmed them even several years after the event.

25. These animals are under human protection and live in nature reserves and protected areas.

photo from the Internet

Philippine tamaraw

These small buffalos live on the island of Mindoro and are only slightly larger than rams, measuring approximately 106 centimeters at the withers. Tamaraw horns are straight, 35–43 centimeters in length. They have a dark brown or completely black color. Tamaraw are solitary, meeting females only during the breeding season, after which they leave them again. Children stay with their mother for several years, after which they leave her and move around in a group for some time. Previously, tamaraw were very common on the islands, but with the advent of civilization, their population began to decline significantly. Now the tamaraw are on the verge of extinction, due to the reduction of forests and active hunting for these babies.