The African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a savannah roaming
and forest dwelling bovid with a dislike for humans. Because of this, the
African buffalo remains undomesticated. With dark brown or black coats,
prominent horns and a large size and weight, the African buffalo is a dominant
presence on the African grasslands.
A grass grazing herd animal, the African buffalo has few
predators due to its unpredictable nature. They have been known to kill lions
and only the very old and very young are at risk from attack by lions, leopards
and hyenas. The herd has at its core the female hierarchy with related bovids
living together with their children. On the outskirts of the herds are the
defensive males and older animals.
Reaching sexual maturity at age five, female African buffalos
typically give birth to one offspring after a gestation period of 11.5 years.
Very attached to their mother's the buffalo calf will stay by its mother's side
until the birth of any siblings. At age two years, the male calves go to live
with the other males on the outskirts of the herd while daughters remain with
their mothers at the center of the herd.
Over 200 human deaths are attributed to the African buffalo
ever year.