Wildlife: Mammals -
Buffalo 1/3
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Cyncerus Caffer, African Buffalo, Buffel, Buffel.
 Description
When looking at the buffalo it can be seen clearly that this species must have
been the forefather of modern day cattle. Except for the horns they look like
heavily built cattle. Males are coloured black or charcoal grey. Females and
youngster have a reddish colour. The hair of the buffalo is relatively short and
coarse. Hair tends to disappear with advancing age. The head is very large and
strong. Males can reach lengths of up to 340 centimetres, females can reach
lengths up to 300 centimetres. Males can weigh up to 625 kilogramms, females can
weigh up to 530 kilogramms. Trohpy bulls from Willem Pretorius were measured at
weighing over 900 kilogramms. The heaviest bull measured in the Kruger National
Park weighed in over 800 kilogramms.
Habitat
As modern-day cattle the buffalo relies on vast quanitities of
grasses. Grass has to be tall to 80 centimetres and in the
vincinity of water. In areas with less than 250 millimetres of
rain per year the buffalo will not feel at home.
Diet
Not a browser the buffalo is not selective when it comes to
food. However the grasses it eats need to be high in protein. A
cow weighing 500 kilogramms will eat up to 18 kilogramms of dry
material a day.
Life history
Gestation takes up to 346 days. Single calves are born at any
time of the year but nearly all in summer. From January till
April in Kruger National Park. Cows will have calves every two
years. Buffalo only reach 15 years of age.
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