African buffalo  (Syncerus caffer)

Description

The strong and imposing African buffalo is Africa’s only wild cattle species (3), and one of the ‘Big Five’ mammals that were once popular with trophy hunters (4). With its bulky build and thick horns, it is easy to see why the African buffalo is considered to be a dangerous animal; and their propensity to attack and even kill humans when wounded by an arrow or bullet only acts to reinforce this reputation (3). There are two recognised subspecies of the African buffalo. Syncerus caffer caffer, the cape or savanna buffalo, is the larger of the two, with large ears fringed with hair hanging below their massive horns (3). It has a short, dark brown to black coat. The slightly smaller and lighter forest buffalo S.c. nanus has a reddish to dark red-brown coat (3), and smaller, swept-back horns (2). Distinctive tassels hang from the tips of the forest buffalo’s ears (3).

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