Buffalo

The word buffalo refers to certain animals of the Bovidae, bovid, family:

• African buffalo, Syncerus caffer.
• Asian buffalo, Bubalus, a genus that includes the domesticated water buffalo.
• It is also sometimes used to refer to the American bison, Bison bison.

All of these are even-toed ungulates, hoofed mammals. They are all ruminants, which means that they have complex digestive systems which allow them to live on a diet of grass, leaves, and other low-grade plant material. They all belong to the subfamily Bovinae, which includes domestic cattle.

African Buffalo

? African Buffalo Conservation status: Lower risk (cd)
African Buffalo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Syncerus Hodgson, 1847 Species: S. caffer
Binomial name
Syncerus caffer (Sparrman, 1779)
Subspecies
S. c. caffer S. c. nanus S. c. brachyceros S. c. mathewsi

The African buffalo or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large animal; 1 to 1.7 meters (3 to 5.5 feet) high at the shoulder, 2 to 3 meters (7 to 10 feet) long, and with a weight of 500 to 1000 kilograms (1,100 to 2,200 lbs). Males are somewhat larger than females. Both sexes have large horns. Newborn African buffalo are covered with thick reddish hair which becomes thinner and darker with age so that mature animals are dark brown or black (Nowak 1983).

African buffalo are found over much of Africa south the Sahara desert in habitats ranging from open savanna (grassland with some trees) to thick forests. Those living in forests tend to be smaller than those living on the savannas. Some of the nations in which they are now found are Ethiopia, Somalia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

African buffalo tend to live in herds, although some older males live alone. Forest living buffalo herds most commonly contain around 12 animals; while on the savannas herds are mostly in the range of 50 to 500, with groups of up to 2,000 or 3,000 sometimes coming together in good grazing conditions (Huffman 2006).

African buffalo are formidable fighters. Both males and females will attack and kill lions and other predators using both their horns and hooves. Many human hunters have also been killed by them. Because of this, sports hunters consider them one of the "Big Five" African animals most dangerous or challenging to hunt. The others are elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, and leopards.

African Buffalo, 19th century drawing

Although in the past the population of African buffalo was in the tens of millions, it now stands at about 900,000; mostly in the savannas of East Africa. Some of the reasons for this decline in numbers are hunting, both for food and for sport; the conversion of their habitat to farmland and cattle pasture; droughts; and the introduction of foreign pests and diseases, especially the cattle disease rinderpest. It is not considered to be in danger of extinction as long as it remains protected in parks and reserves, although habitat loss continues (Huffman 2006)(IUCN 2006).

The African buffalo has never been successfully domesticated.

Asian buffalo

Asian buffalo are members of the genus Bubalus. They are:

• Subgenus Bubalus
  • Water Buffalo, Bubalus bubalus
  • Tamaraw, Bubalus mindorensis
• Subgenus Anoa
  • Lowland Anoa, Bubalus depressicornis
  • Mountain Anoa, Bubalus quarlesi

Water buffalo

? Water Buffalo
Water Buffalo bathing
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily:: Bovinae Genus: Bubalus Species: B. bulbalis
Binomial name
Bubalus bulbalis (Kerr, 1792)

The wild Water buffalo, sometimes called the Arni, Bubalus bulbalis, is somewhat larger than the African buffalo. An adult male typically stands 1.5 to 1.9 meters tall and weighs 700 to 1,200 kg, while females are smaller. The spread of their horns is the largest of any living ungulate. They are covered with sparse hair and range in color from light gray to black. Their skin is very thick, which helps to protect from insects and from thorns (Nowak 1983). The wild Water buffalo is native to the area of India and south-east Asia.

They prefer to live near fresh water and mostly live in marshland and along the banks of rivers. They are good swimmers and spend much of their time in the water, which keeps them cool and protects them from biting insects. They can graze on water plants while swimming and even dive underwater to feed on them (Massicot 2004). Their feet are large and the toes can spread apart to give them better footing in mud.

Wild Water buffalo are now very rare. Small populations are found in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand. It is thought that less than 4,000 remain and their numbers are declining. Some of its problems are illegal hunting, loss of habitat, introduced diseases and parasites, and interbreeding with domesticated buffalo (IUCN 2006).

The Water buffalo was first domesticated in south east Asia, at least 6,000 years ago; it is not sure exactly when since little archaeological evidence has been found. It seems that buffalo were used early for the plowing of rice fields and the threshing of rice. Domestic animal expert Juliet Clutton-Brock wrote (Clutton-Brock 1999):

More than half the people of the world depend on rice for their staple diet and it is the water buffalo that enables rice to be cultivated and threshed with the greatest efficiency and economy.

Like cattle, domestic Water buffalo had many other uses. They were used to pull carts and carry loads, although they travel more slowly than oxen, donkeys, and horses and need to stop and get into water to cool off on hot days. They provided milk and meat for food and leather, bone, and horn for materials. Their manure fertilized the rice fields and was used for fuel.

Water buffalo changed under domestication. Over many generations they became smaller so that today their average weight is around 300 to 600 kg. Their bodies became rounder and their horns smaller. They also became tamer and more docile. Water buffalo form a bond with their human owners and can be herded even by children. There are even stories of water buffalo protecting their masters by fending off attacks by crocodiles and tigers (Olson 2006).

Over the years domestic Water buffalo spread around the world to areas to which they were suited, mainly lowlands in tropical and subtropical areas with wet climates, especially rice growing areas. By 4,500 years ago they were found in India and around the year 600 they were introduced to Egypt and southern Europe. In more recent times they have become common in the Philippines and other Pacific islands and in South America, especially Brazil. In the early 1800s they were introduced to Australia where many escaped or were abandoned and gave rise to a large feral population in the northern part of the country.

There are two main types of domestic Water buffalo, the swamp type originally from east Asia and the river type from India. Swamp buffalo have straighter, more swept back horns, more like wild Water buffalo, than river buffalo and prefer to wallow in mud while river buffalo prefer clear running water - as their names suggest. River buffalo are used more for milk production than for work. Buffalo milk is richer than cow's milk and is traditionally used in Italy to make mozzarella cheese. In traditional societies Water buffalo were not killed for meat unless they were unable to work because of age or injury. In these cases the meat was tough and not very palatable; however when buffalo are raised expressly for meat the product compares with that of cattle. Water buffalo leather is very thick and strong and is used to make, among other things, shoes and motorcycle helmets (Olson 2006).

In 1992 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated the world Water buffalo population at 148 million. About 95 percent live in Asia, with India and China having the largest number. In India more milk for human consumption is produced by Water buffalo than by cattle. In Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia the number of Water buffalo seems to be decreasing while in most other Asian countries it is increasing. In the United States, except for Hawaii, Water buffalo have only recently been introduced as farm animals and number the few thousands (Ligda 1996).

Tamaraw

The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis; previously Anoa mindorensis), Tamarao or Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo is a bovine endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. It is believed, however, to have once also thrived on the greater island of Luzon. It was originally found all over Mindoro, from sea level up to the mountains, but because of human habitation, hunting, and logging, it is now restricted to only a few remote grassy plains and is now an endangered species.

Contrary to common belief and past classification, the Tamaraw is not a subspecies of the local Carabao, which is only slightly larger, or the common Water Buffalo. In contrast to the Carabao, it has a number of distinguishing characteristics: it is slightly hairier, has light markings on its face, is not gregarious, and has shorter horns that are somewhat V-shaped.

Though the national animal of the Philippines is the Carabao, the Tamaraw is closely considered a national symbol of the Philippines. It symbolizes sturdiness amidst a small frame, which most Filipinos possess. An image of the Tamaraw could be found on the 1980 to early 1990 One-Peso coins.

During the wake of the Asian van popularity in 1990s, Toyota Motors released an Asian van called Tamaraw FX in the Philippines. It was widely patronized by taxi operators and was immediately turned into a staple mode of transportation much like a cross of the taxi and the local jeepney.

The tamaraw is also the mascot of the varsity teams of the Far Eastern University (FEU Tamaraws) in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines, and of the Toyota Tamaraws of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Anoa

There are two species of anoa: the Mountain Anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and the Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis). Both live in undisturbed forest, and although they are essentially miniature Water Buffalo, are similar in appearance to a deer, weighing 150–300 kg (330–660 lb).

Both are found on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia; the Mountain Anoa is also found on the nearby island of Butung. They apparently live singly or in pairs, rather than herds, except when the cows are about to give birth. One young is born per year.

A Lowland Anoa

Both species of anoa have been classified as endangered since the 1960s and the population continues to decrease. It is believed unlikely that there are more than 5000 animals of each species remaining. Reasons for the decline of the anoa include hunting for hide, horns and meat by the indigenous peoples (though they were rarely hunted by indigenous peoples before the introduction of modern firearms); and loss of habitat due to the advancement of settlement. Currently, hunting is the more serious factor in most areas. The anoa do not appear to be adaptable to humans.

Mountain Anoa are also known as Anoa de Montana, Anoa de Quarle, Anoa des Montagnes, Anoa Pegunungan, and Quarle's Anoa. Lowland Anoa are also known as Anoa de Ilanura or Anoa des Plaines.

Lowland Anoa stands but little over a yard at the shoulder, and is the most diminutive of all wild cattle. It is nearly allied to the larger Asiatic buffaloes, showing the same reversal of the direction of the hair on the back. The horns are peculiar for their upright direction and comparative straightness, although they have the same triangular section as in other buffaloes. White spots are sometimes present below the eyes, and there may be white markings on the legs and back; and the absence or presence of these white markings may be indicative of distinct races. The horns of the cows are very small. The nearest allies of the anoa appear to be certain extinct buffaloes, of which the remains are found in the Siwalik Hills of northern India. In habits the animal appears to resemble the Indian buffalo.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Clutton-Brock, J. 1999. A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals. Cambridge UK : Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521634954.
• Huffman, B. 2006. The ultimate ungulate page. UltimateUngulate.com. Retrieved (date).
• International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). 2006. Syncerus caffer, Bubalus bubalis, Bubalus quarlesi, Bubalus depressicornis Bubalus mindorensis. Retrieved
• Ligda, D.J. 1996. The Water Buffalo. Website. [1]
• Massicot, P. 2004. Animal Info. Website Wild Asian (Water) Buffalo
• Nowak, R.M. and Paradiso, J.L. 1983. Walker's Mammals of the World. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801825253
• Olson, T.J. 2006. Turkey Creek Water Buffalo [2] Accessed
• Raudiansky, S. 1992. The Covenant of the Wild. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. ISBN 0688096107.
• Voelker, W. 1986. The Natural History of Living Mammals. Medford, New Jersey, USA: Plexus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0937548081.

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