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- Jan 28, 2003
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Ladies and gentlemen,
I often see these two species being confused both in print on TV. Asian water buffalo do not live in Africa. You can not hunt water buffalo anywhere in Africa. They do not exist in the wild anywhere on the continent of Africa. The Asian water buffalo is found in the wild but has been extensively domesticated for use as both a food and draft animal. The water buffalo does not have a solid and conjoined boss like rather it has the horns coming out of either side of it's head and they have a characteristic sweep backward with no drop to the horn at all.
Asian water buffalo
The water buffalo can be found in the wild and as a feral animal in several countries that allow hunting of them. Australia being the prime water buffalo hunting destination. They are also hunted in South America and here in the USA. While the water buffalo is a large and potentially dangerous animal it doesn't have near the reputation for ferocity as the African cape buffalo.
The cape buffalo is the wild oxen of Africa. They are found throughout most of sub- Saharan African and are noted for their solid bosses which means the horns are joined at the top of the head and the cape buffaloes horns have a characteristic down sweep know as drops or sweeps. the cape buffalo is known for it's extremely aggressive attitude. Especially when harassed or wounded. There have been attempts to domesticate the cape buffalo but they tend to be very unpredictable and dangerous especially after they reach sexual maturity.
African Cape buffalo
So when you see a report in the news about "water buffalo" in Africa you can rest assured that the reporter/reporting agency doesn't know a thing about wild African fauna.
Comparing an Asian water buff to cape buff is like comparing a Hereford bull to Spanish fighting bull. Both are big both are dangerous given the right circumstances. But the Fighting bull would really like to kill you just because.
I often see these two species being confused both in print on TV. Asian water buffalo do not live in Africa. You can not hunt water buffalo anywhere in Africa. They do not exist in the wild anywhere on the continent of Africa. The Asian water buffalo is found in the wild but has been extensively domesticated for use as both a food and draft animal. The water buffalo does not have a solid and conjoined boss like rather it has the horns coming out of either side of it's head and they have a characteristic sweep backward with no drop to the horn at all.
Asian water buffalo
The water buffalo can be found in the wild and as a feral animal in several countries that allow hunting of them. Australia being the prime water buffalo hunting destination. They are also hunted in South America and here in the USA. While the water buffalo is a large and potentially dangerous animal it doesn't have near the reputation for ferocity as the African cape buffalo.
The cape buffalo is the wild oxen of Africa. They are found throughout most of sub- Saharan African and are noted for their solid bosses which means the horns are joined at the top of the head and the cape buffaloes horns have a characteristic down sweep know as drops or sweeps. the cape buffalo is known for it's extremely aggressive attitude. Especially when harassed or wounded. There have been attempts to domesticate the cape buffalo but they tend to be very unpredictable and dangerous especially after they reach sexual maturity.
African Cape buffalo
So when you see a report in the news about "water buffalo" in Africa you can rest assured that the reporter/reporting agency doesn't know a thing about wild African fauna.
Comparing an Asian water buff to cape buff is like comparing a Hereford bull to Spanish fighting bull. Both are big both are dangerous given the right circumstances. But the Fighting bull would really like to kill you just because.
