African buffalo

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large bovid native to sub-Saharan Africa. First described in 1779 by Swedish naturalistAnders Sparrman, it is the only extant species of the genus Syncerus. Four subspecies are currently recognized: the Cape buffalo, West African savanna buffalo, Central African savanna buffalo, and African forest buffalo. It is a heavily built animal with a broad head and torso, a strong neck, large horns, and a bony plate or "boss" between the horns of males. The fur ranges in color from rusty to black, and the tail ends with a dark, hairy tuft.

The species occurs in a variety of habitats, such as woodlands, savannas, forests, grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands. It is a ruminant and a grazer, primarily feeding on grass and dietary fiber. A social animal, the African buffalo forms herds ranging in size from a few individuals to over a thousand members. Herds typically consist of adult females and their young, and a number of adult males that temporarily join herds for mating opportunities. Males have a pecking order where dominant individuals hold the best access to mates. After a gestation of 340 days, females give birth to a single calf. Weaning occurs between 10 and 18 months, and the lifespan is about 12 years in the wild. Adult African buffaloes have few natural predators because of their size and strength, though calves are much more vulnerable.

Since the 19th century, the African buffalo's geographic distribution has greatly reduced due to human factors such as poaching, climate change, agriculture, and disease outbreaks. Despite this, conservation efforts have managed to increase populations in some parts of its range. As of 2019, it is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated population of 398,000 to 401,000 mature individuals.