African buffalo  (Syncerus caffer)

Both the savanna and the forest buffalo still occur in considerable numbers, but populations have been greatly reduced by hunting, habitat loss and disease (3) (6). In several southern parts of its range, the African buffalo has never recovered from the devastating rinderpest epidemic that struck in the 1890s (6), and the potential for another rinderpest outbreak continues today. Another disease, bovine tuberculosis, is also known to affect African buffalo; a recent outbreak has impacted populations in Kruger National Park, South Africa (7). Outside of national parks in some areas, buffalos come into contact with humans; breaking fences, raiding crops and potentially spreading bovine diseases to livestock (4), and may be persecuted as a result.

The survival of most of the world’s wild cattle species is believed to rely on their existence in properly protected reserves (6). Luckily, the African buffalo is well represented in numerous national parks and protected areas (2), such as Serengeti National Park and Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania (8) (9). As one of the ‘big five’, African buffalo are sought after by tourists on wildlife safaris, and by game hunters (5), giving people great economic incentive to conserve this impressive mammal.