African Buffalo

Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Syncerus Species: S. caffer Distribution Map Conservation Status: Lower risk

Counting some 60,000 individuals in the Serengeti National Park, the formidable African Buffalo is one of its most numerous inhabitants. An aggressive and bad-tempered beast, it's considered the most dangerous of African animals, killing more people than lions or crocodiles ever do. Indeed, they will charge for any reason, at the least sense of danger. At night, for example, they often attack the vehicle's lights, causing severe damages.

Known as one of the "big five", the hostile-looking African buffalo is a bovid from the family of the Bovidae. It is up to 1.7 meters high, 3.4 meters long, and can reach a weight of 900 kilograms.

A very powerful creature, demanding respect from even a pride of lions when paths cross, they are dangerous even on the brink of death: a wounded buffalo will fake dead to let predators come near and thus deliver a last desperate -and sometimes mortal- attack.

Other than man, they have few natural predators and are capable of defending themselves against (and sometimes killing) lions, who will attack only old, sick, or immature buffaloes. The leopard is a threat only to newborn calves.

Buffaloes prefer open areas of abundant pastures, close to swampy ground where they can wallow. The main herd consists of all sexes and ages, though bachelor groups are also found.

A male is recognizable by the thickness of his horns, and is called the "Boss." Bulls mature at eight years of age. Cows first calve at five years of age, after a gestation period of 11.5 months.

With excerpts from Wikipedia's Buffalo page.

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