Chapter 26

There are two types of buffalo the African and the Asian water buffalo. They are dark gray or black and lok ike 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 fo 5.6 feet) in height and weigh between 300 -861 kalograms (660 and 1900 pounds).

They feed mainly on grass and when grass is scarce, they may eat shrubs and trees. The African butfaloes live in iarge herds which can include up to a thousand buffaloes.

Usually herds are smaler with an average of 12 buttalo per herd. When they are foced by predators, they will form a circie around the young, old and weak buffalbes. This barrier is very effective in preventing predators from reaching buttaloes that are not strang enough to fight. African buffaloes have poor eyesight and hearing, but they have an excellent sense of smell.

The average life of the African Butfaio in the wild is 20 years. The bond between a mother and her calf is very strong and the caif is completely dependent an its mother for a period of one year.

Buffaloes are reported to kill more hunters in Africa than any ofher animal. They are known to ambush hunters that have wounded them. They have also been known to attack hunters that have harmed them even years after the event took place.

They are good swimmers and often cross deep waters in search of better grazing.