The Cape buffalo

Basic introduction to the buffalo

At first glance, buffaloes look like domesticated cattle, but with blackish body color and well known for their remarkable horns that resemble horizontal question marks with the sharp point, facing upwards and slightly inwards. Both male and female buffaloes have horns. The male buffaloes’ horns are much thicker and bulkier than the females. The horns grow out of a shield-like structure on top of the head that is more prominent and pronounced in males than in females. This structure is called the “boss” and it is actually made up of two “boss halves”.

Vital Statistics

Diet and feeding of the Buffalo

Buffaloes eat a wide selection of grass species and are bulk grazers. Buffalo seems to prefer long dry grass above short grass with new growth shoots. They will graze over a wide area in search of food resources and seldom wander far from water (if the availability of food is enough). Buffaloes are water-dependent and will drink daily if they can. They will drink between 60-80 liters (16-21 gallons) of water per day.

During the heat of the day, buffaloes will lay down under a shady tree and ruminate. During this time, male buffaloes also enjoy a bit of mud wallowing in the shallow water in a muddy spot to help regulate the body temperature. The mud will dry on the body and will help protect the animal from the sun as well as parasites.

Social grouping of the Cape buffalo

Buffaloes are very social animals and will mostly be found in herds, ranging from a few individuals to a couple of hundred. A herd consists of males and females of all ages as well as their offspring.

Smaller herds can be found near rivers, most commonly amongst the reeds or on top of or near rocky outcrops that they use as a height-advantage for possible danger. These are usually males and are called a bachelor herd.

Within any buffalo herd, whether it be a mixed herd or a bachelor herd, there resonates a strict hierarchy based on the ability to fight and the overall body size of a male buffalo.

Female buffaloes on the other hand will be ranked by their reproduction status, with mothers with young earning the highest rank.

Rank is very important, especially in a big herd, as it will determine the position where the animals will walk in the herd. Higher ranked buffaloes are in the front of the herd, they get to eat the best food first. Lower-ranked individuals will walk in the middle and in the back. These buffaloes have to be happy with the vegetation that has been left over by the higher ranked buffaloes.

These animals are vulnerable, as they are exposed to attack more often than the higher-ranked individuals in the front.

A buffalo herd is structured according to the season. During the wet/rainy season, large herds fragment into smaller herds as water and grazing becomes more plentiful. The movement of the herd is determined by the front, higher-ranked buffaloes.

Fighting and Hierarchy of Buffaloes

The rank of a male buffalo is determined by intimidation tactic and strength. A young male will only be granted a higher title after several years of altercations amongst the other juveniles.  Threat displays from males are usually enough to be taken seriously, instead of a physical fight.

The threat posture is usually in the form of the two opposing parties holding their head high while pointing the nose to the ground and hunching the shoulders. If no response is given by one individual, the more aggressive buffalo may toss its head around, dig the ground with its horns or even initiate a small chase in an attempt to hook its horns into its opponent’s horns. The response will then be met by the other buffalo holding its head low with its horns back, or if close enough, to put its nose beneath the neck or stomach of the dominant male.

In the event of a serious fight, two bulls will charge each other, with noses pointing towards each other. Just before impact, both animals will lower their heads to brace for impact, with the two opposing bosses clashing multiple times. The loser will turn and run in order to avoid a further damaging attack.

Old, dominant bulls will lose their status at about 11 years of age. During this time, they will either leave the herd and walk alone or join a bachelor herd.

Reproduction of the African Buffalo

The most common time to mate is January through to March. It is also believed that the main calving period coincides with optimal grass growth or after the first great rain has fallen.

The gestation for a buffalo is 11 months. Female buffaloes go into estrous after 3 years old and will give birth for the first time at age 4. Male buffaloes will frequently check the sexual status of a female with Flehmen Grimace, and sniffing of her urine and genitals. The female finally comes into estrous for only 2 – 3 days. The mating will commence with the male courting her and resting his head on her rump. She may prove deliberately evasive by attracting the attention of other males. This leads to fights between two bulls. The highest-ranked and the most experienced bull will get to mount her in the end.

Buffalo Anti-predator behavior

Large herds of buffalo are frequently followed by lions, as lions know the old and the weak, lower-ranked individuals walk in the back of the herd. When buffaloes get attacked, they will act in charging or surrounding the predator in a circle of defense, trying to drive the danger away.

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