Overview
Larger in body and horns than the West African savanna buffalo, but smaller than the Nile buffalo. These animals exhibit considerable individual variation in size, color and horn configuration. Body color can be brownish black, reddish, or tan. Horn shape can vary from the Nile type to the West African savanna type. Different colors and various horn configurations are often seen in the same herd.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Syncerus
- Species
- Syncerus caffer
Habitat
Savanna and woodland zone north of the high equatorial rain forest. Distribution- Southern Chad, the Central African Republic except in the far southwest; and the northern edge of Congo (K), adjacent to the Central African Republic and east of Bangui.
Diet
Primarily grazes.
Behavior
Their herd size is highly variable with the core being females and their offspring. Bachelor groups of older mature males will stick together and are known as Dugga Boys. African buffaloes are notable for their apparent altruism. Females appear to exhibit some sort of voting behavior. During resting time, the females will stand up, shuffle around, and sit back down again. They will sit in the direction they think they should move. After an hour of more shuffling, the females will travel in the direction they decide. This decision is communal and not based on hierarchy or dominance. When chased by predators, a herd will stick close together and make it hard for the predators to pick off one member. Calves are gathered in the middle. A buffalo herd will respond to the distress call of a captured member and try to rescue it. A calf's distress call will get the attention of not only the mother, but also the herd. Buffaloes will engage in mobbing behavior when fighting off predators. The African Lion is the buffaloes mortal enemy as African Lions are capable of preying on buffalo all while buffalo often times kill African Lions in defense. Buffaloes mate and give birth only during the rainy seasons. Birth peak takes place early in the season, while mating peaks later. A bull will closely guard a cow that comes into heat, while keeping other bulls at bay.This is difficult, as cows are quite evasive and attract many males to the scene. By the time a cow is in full estrus, only the most dominant bull in the herd/subherd is there.
Hunting
Spot and stalk methods. This animal can be deadly and will charge not only when hit, but if it feels threatened or cornered in thick vegetation. A minimum of a .375 caliber and preferably a larger caliber in the .416-.470 range if possible.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN, referring to the species as a whole.