Sunday, 25 March 2012

The Water Buffalo in Africa

The African buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear. Owing to its unpredictable nature which makes it highly dangerous to humans, it has not been domesticated unlike its Asian counterpart the domestic Asian water buffalo. The African buffalo is a very robust species. Savannah type buffaloes weigh 500 to 910 kg, with males, normally larger than females, reaching the upper weight range. Savannah type buffalo have black or dark brown coats with age. Old bulls have whitish circles around their eyes. Females tend to have more reddish coats.

The horns of African buffalo are very peculiar. A characteristic feature of them is the fact that the adult bull’s horns have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield referred to as a “boss,” which cannot always be penetrated even by a rifle bullet. From the base the horns diverge, then bend down, and then smoothly curve upwards and outwards. The basic herds consist of related females, and their offspring, in an almost linear dominance hierarchy. The basic herds are surrounded by sub-herds of subordinate males, high-ranking males and females and old or invalid animals. The young males keep their distance from the dominant bull, which is recognizable by the thickness of his horns.

Where to see the water Buffalo in Uganda

When To Go
Accessible year round. Dry Season, June – August. Wet Season November – December, March – February.

You can experience the fascinating combination of natural beauty and cultural heritage through contacting;
Eco Culture Tours and Adventures





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