The Cape Buffalo are Africa’s only wild cow but is in the same species as the domesticated cattle. They are very powerful animals, with a shoulder height between 1 to 1.7 metres and with a head to body length of 1.7 to 3.4 metres. The males can weigh anything from 500kg to a whopping 910kg with females being slightly smaller and weighing less. They have a lifespan of 15 to 25 years in the wild. Females have a gestation period of 11.5 months and they give birth to single calf usually in the rainy season. The males leave their mother and join the bachelor groups at the age of 2 years old. Their grazing habits and diet consists of a variety of grasses but during time of drought can survive on shrubs and tree leaves which provide moisture. The best time to view these bulky animals is around early morning or at dusk when they are out grazing. They tend to spend the hottest part of the day in shady areas such as forest areas. They need to drink at least once a day so are water-dependent. Cape Buffaloes are found all across east and southern Africa in dense populations and they favour open grasslands, swamps, savannah and forest edges no more than 15km away from water sources.
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