Cape Buffalo : Study
A study conducted by researchers in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) has offered insights into the reasons behind human-Cape buffalo conflict that occurs across sub-Saharan Africa.
- The African or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a formidable and aggressive species.
- It is one of the four subspecies of African Buffalo found south of the Sahara, the others being the forest buffalo, the West African Savanna Buffalo and the Central African Savanna Buffalo.
- Compared with other large bovids, African buffalo have long but stocky bodies and short but thickset legs, resulting in a relatively short standing height.
- The adult buffalo’s horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a “boss”.
- The Cape Buffalo is found across the savannas of east and southern Africa.
- They live in swamps and floodplains, as well as mopane grasslands, and the forests of the major mountains of Africa.
- They prefer a habitat with dense cover, such as reeds and thickets, but can also be found in open woodland, montane grasslands, and forest, savannas, and moist lowland rainforests.
- African buffalo may be active throughout the day and night. They are social and live in herds that consist of related females, and their offspring, in an almost linear dominance hierarchy.
- Diet: African buffalo have a strictly herbivorous They feed on a wide variety of grasses, sedges, leaves, and other plants.
- These massive animals are also excellent swimmers and often cross rivers in search of better grazing.
- Conservation status IUCN: Near Threatened
