What does a Buffalo “Calf” look like  As protective as I am over my calf, the entire heard will look after our young as their very own when moments of danger come our way. As it is with many young animals, the baby Buffalo is an adorable little creature whose appearance alters as he/she grows. They are born weighing only 40-53 kilograms, with red-brown or light brown fur that becomes darker as they age. How to tell a Buffalo “Cow”  Buffalo cows remain at their calf's side until the calf reaches adulthood, at which point they embark on their own adventure with the herd. The female Buffalo, also known as ‘Cow’, are somewhat red brown and have narrow horns. They weigh 550-700 kilograms which makes them slightly smaller than the bull. Much of the gang is made up of female relatives and their young.  Hierarchy is mostly enforced by aggressive visual displays rather than by physical fighting. During the rut the leading breeding bull forces the sub-adult bulls out of the family group to join bachelor herds. The male buffalo or “bull” is truly competitive by nature. They regularly compete for breeding and ranking within the gang, through head on clashes. In this case the strongest bull may mate with the female or lead the rest of the gang.  Old post-mature bulls do not follow the breeding herds but stay in thicket bush in riverine habitats. These bulls are extremely temperamental and will charge nearby animals or humans for no apparent reason. The Cape Buffalo is one of the most tenacious herbivores in the animal kingdom. They are the largest sub-Saharan bovine and form part of the big five, meaning they are especially difficult to hunt on foot. Their average lifespan in their natural habitat is 15-18 years, which is remarkably shorter than it is in captivity. |