Ihe Buffalo

There are two types of buffalo -the African and the Asian water

buffalo. They are dark gray or black and look like bulls. The

African buffalo is a large animal that can reach 2 to 3.4

meters(6.8 to 11 feet) in length, 0.7 to 1.7 meters (3.2 to 5.6 feet) in

height, and weigh between 300- 861 kilograms (660 and 1900

pounds).

They feed mainly on grass; when grass is scarce, they may eat

shrubs and trees. The African buffaloes live in large herds which

can include up to a thoUSand buffaloes. Usually, herds are smaller,

with an average of 12 buffalo per herd. When faced by predators,

they will form a circle around the young, old, and weak buffaloes.

This barrier is very effective in preventing predators from reaching

buffaloes that are not strong enough to fight.

African buffaloes have poor eyesight and hearing but have an

excellent sense of smell. The average life of the African Buffalo in

the wild is 20 years. The bond between a mother and her calf is

very strong, and the calf is completely dependent on its mother

tor one year.

Buffaloes are reported to kill more hunters in Africa than any other

animal. They are known to ambush hunters who have wounded

them. They have also been known to attack hunters who have

harmed them even years after the event took place. They are

good swimmers and often cross deep waters in search of better

grazing.