Instagram – Aug 19, 2022 @ 10:00
The African Buffalo thrives in all sub-Saharan grassland habitats with access to water, from dry savanna to swamp and mixed forests. Though there is only one species of buffalo in Africa, they have four subspecies: Cape Buffalo, West African savanna buffalo, Central African buffalo, and forest buffalo. Cape buffalos are herbivores and eat a wide variety of grasses, leaves, and other plants to sustain their bulk.
Do not be fooled by these seemingly docile creatures! They have earned their place as one of the iconic Big Five and are one of the most dangerous of them all. These enormous animals have an incredible memory and are known to use it to exact revenge on humans who have caused them harm, giving them the nickname “Black Death” or “Widowmaker.”
Habitat destruction, poaching, disease, and trophy hunting are a few of the threats leading to their population decline. This magnificent species is currently classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List.