Cape Buffalo Are Intensely Protective Herbivores

Nicole Antonio
·5 min read

Today, we're exploring one of Africa's most formidable and awe-inspiring animals: the Cape buffalo. This powerhouse bovine isn't just a member of the prestigious "Big Five" — it's also one of the most dangerous animals on the continent.

The Cape buffalo is its most iconic subspecies of African buffalo, dominating the savannas and grasslands of southern and eastern Africa with its sheer size and strength.

Though typically calm, you definitely don't want to cross paths with a herd, especially if a mature bull is nearby. Their protective instincts and power are unmatched, earning them a reputation as a tough and fearless creatures.

Physical Characteristics

Cape buffaloes are large, robust animals, easily recognizable by their muscular builds and thick, curved horns. An adult Cape buffalo can weigh between 600 and 2,000 pounds (270 and 907 kilograms) and stand between 4 and 5.6 feet (1.2 and 1.7 meters) tall at the shoulder.

Both male and female Cape buffaloes have distinctly shaped horns, often sought after by big game hunters as trophies. However, the horns of mature bulls are especially impressive. The bases of a bull's horns fuse in the center, forming a solid, helmet-like structure called a "boss," which provides protection and is used for defense and fighting.

This buffalo species has a dark, shaggy coat ranging from dark brown to black, and their wide-set eyes give them a somewhat stern appearance. While the buffaloes might look similar to domestic cattle, don't be fooled; they are wild, unpredictable and much more powerful.

Different Subspecies

The Cape buffalo is the most well-known subspecies of the African buffalo, but other subspecies exist across the continent.

For example, the forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) is significantly smaller than its Cape cousin and thrives in the dense, humid forests of Central and West Africa. Its compact size and reddish-brown coat make it well-suited for navigating thick undergrowth, and it tends to live in smaller, more dispersed herds compared to the larger, more social Cape buffalo.

On the other hand, the West African savanna buffalo (Syncerus caffer brachyceros) inhabits more open landscapes in West Africa. These buffaloes are generally smaller and lighter in build than Cape buffaloes, and they are distinguished by their reddish coats, which help them blend into the savanna grasslands.

While they share similarities with their Cape counterparts, such as social behavior, their herds are typically smaller, and they've adapted to more arid conditions.

Also, don't mistake this large bovine for its distant relative, the Asian water buffalo; they're entirely separate species.

Social Habits

One of the most fascinating things about Cape buffaloes is their social structure. They live in large herds that can number in the hundreds, especially during the rainy season when food is plentiful.

The herd provides protection from predators like lions. When threatened, buffaloes will form a protective circle around the weaker members, with the mature bulls facing outward to defend the group.

Interestingly, not all buffaloes stay with the main herd. Young males often form smaller bachelor groups after being pushed out by the dominant bulls. These bachelor groups can be dangerous, as the younger bulls tend to be more aggressive and unpredictable.

Diet

Cape buffaloes are herbivores that spend most of their day grazing on grasses. Their diet consists primarily of tough grasses that many other herbivores may find difficult to digest.

Due to their large size, Cape buffaloes must consume a substantial amount of food — between 13.5 and 38.5 pounds (6.1 to 17.5 kilograms) of grass — to maintain their energy levels.

During the dry season, when grass is scarce, buffaloes eat shrubs and other vegetation, though they prefer the open grasslands where they can graze freely. Their grazing habits actually help maintain the savanna ecosystem by preventing grasses from becoming overgrown.

Environment

Cape buffaloes are primarily found in the savannas and grasslands of southern and eastern Africa, as well as parts of central Africa.

They thrive in areas with plenty of water, as they need to drink large amounts daily to survive. This is why herds are often seen near rivers, lakes or swamps, especially during the dry season.

Cape buffaloes are also common in national parks and protected areas, where they're safe from human activity. However, they're not picky about their habitat and can adapt to a variety of environments, including dry plains and swamps, as long as there's enough food and water.

Life Cycle

Female Cape buffaloes typically give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of about 11 months. The calf stays close to its mother for the first year of life and is protected by the herd.

The maternal bond is strong, and mothers are fiercely protective of their young. Calves are weaned after about six months but will continue to stay with the herd until they reach maturity.

Young males are usually kicked out of the herd when they're around 3 to 4 years old, joining bachelor groups until they're old enough to challenge dominant bulls for the right to mate.

Cape buffaloes can live up to 20 years in the wild, though life can be tough for older buffaloes, as they're more likely to fall prey to lions, especially if they've been weakened by injury or disease.

Conservation Status

Cape buffaloes, sometimes called "the Black Death" by big game hunters due to their unpredictable nature, are not currently endangered.

In fact, their populations are stable in many areas, thanks to their presence in national parks and reserves. However, in some regions, their numbers have been affected by habitat loss and diseases spread by domestic cattle.

Efforts to conserve African buffaloes focus on protecting their natural habitats and managing tsetse fly populations, which can spread diseases like human African trypanosomiasis, also known as "sleeping sickness," to these buffaloes.

In areas where conservation is a priority, Cape buffaloes continue to play a critical role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystems they inhabit.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Original article: Cape Buffalo Are Intensely Protective Herbivores

Copyright © 2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company

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