Cape Buffalo - One of The Big 5 |
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Unique Features
Adult buffaloes in their prime have no fear of natural predators and will fight off their enemies vigorously. Many adults carry the scars of old wounds on their shoulders and back where they have shaken off lion. Lions attempting to prey on buffalo are often trampled or gored to death - or chased up a tree. Warthogs sometimes mix with buffalo herds as this give them temporary safety from predators. The average buffalo's lifespan is 20 years. Predators Healthy adult buffaloes have no natural enemies and make no attempt to escape from predators. Injured or old adults and calves are hunted by lion, packs of hyenas and large crocodiles. Family ties Buffalo move in herds that sometimes number as much as several thousand. Young males establish their dominance by displays of bravado or fighting. The bulls stretch their necks and gallop at each other at full speed, their horns clashing with a loud thud. Sometimes the impact shatters the horns and a fully grown bull may somersault through the air on impact and land flat on its back. Only the dominant males of the herd mate with the females - amid much grunting and bellowing. Males begin to mate at the age of seven or eight, and female male at the age of four. |