Buffalo

Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), or African cape, is Africa’s only wild cattle species, and one of the ‘Big Five’ mammals that were once popular with trophy hunters. With its bulky build and thick horns, the buffalo is considered to be a dangerous animal, and its propensity to attack and even kill humans when wounded by an arrow or bullet only acts to reinforce this reputation. The  buffalo has a broad chest, large limbs and a large head. The sparse covering of hair over the body typically ranges from brownish to black in colour. The imposing horns spread outward and downward from the head, and in some males the horns are joined by a large shield covering the head, known as a ‘boss’. Soft hairs fringe the large, drooping ears, and the long tail has a tassel of hairs at the end. The male  buffalo tends to be larger than the female, with longer, thicker horns. There are currently four recognised subspecies of  buffalo, which vary greatly in size and appearance or domestic Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a large bovid originating in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. Today, it is also found in Europe, Australia, South America and some African countries. It is recognized as the national animal of Vietnam. The wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) native to Southeast Asia is considered a different species, but most likely represents the ancestor of the domestic water buffalo At up to more than a tonne in weight, the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is a massive, powerful animal, with a wider horn span than any other bovid. These crescent-shaped, ribbed horns are heavy-set at the base, tapering to a narrow tip, and are larger in males than females, sometimes spanning over two metres. Large, splayed hooves are also advantageous for walking in the muddy, marshy ground on which this buffalo grazes. The animal has a sparse covering of long, ashy-grey to black hair, with dirty-white ‘stockings’ up to the knees. The tail is relatively long and bushy at its tip, and a distinctive white ‘V’ marks the lower neck.