African+buffalo

The African buffalo, also known as syncerus caffer, has only one species in Africa, but two sub-species. These sub-species are the large savanna buffalo and the smaller forest buffalo. Forest buffalos are only found in central and west Africa. When you look at an American buffalo, the first thing to pop in your mind seems to be "big, furry cow." The appearance of an African savanna buffalo varies greatly. The adults are dark grey or black, and their young are reddish-brown. Adults lose their hair as they age as well. The forest buffalo is almaot exactly the same as a savanna buffalo in every way, except for their size and the fact that the adults never change from the red fur. They have ridged horns that grow right out of their head and curve up or down. The horns are weapons used against predators, fights for dominance, or to get space in the herd.

Buffalos live close to the water. The ocean, lakes, rivers; any water source. They use it to cool down, bathe, drink, or anything else they need. At Kruger National Park, they have wide, open spaces and plains for them to roam.

African buffalo mate only during the rainy season. When a cow is in heat, a bull will guard her and make sure no other bulls come into contact with her. In the end, the most dominant bull will end up with the cow. Cows can have their first calf at five years old and are pregnant for 11.5 months. Newborn calves stay in the vegetation for their first few weeks and then join the herd. They stay in the middle for protection.

African buffalos diet revolves around grass. They don't have very many predators and only eat grass. The predators that they do have and hurt them the most are lions and humans.