African Buffalo

The African buffalo occurs in a variety of habitats, such as woodlands, savannas, forests, grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands. It is a ruminant and a grazer, primarily feeding on grass and dietary fiber. A social animal, the African buffalo forms herds ranging in size from a few individuals to over a thousand members. Herds typically consist of adult females and their young, and a number of adult males that temporarily join herds for mating opportunities. Males have a pecking order where dominant individuals hold the best access to mates. After a gestation of more than 10 months, females give birth to a single calf. Weaning occurs between 10 and 18 months, and the lifespan is about 12 years in the wild. Adult African buffaloes have few natural predators because of their size and aggression, though calves are much more vulnerable.