Wild Water Buffalo

The Wild Water Buffalo is the heaviest living bovid species, weighing on average 900 kgs with widespread horns of up to 2 meters. Its skin is ash grey to black with coarse hair. This species prefers to live close to the water and can be found in grasslands, riverbanks, and riparian forests and woodlands. It spends its time wallowing in pools of mud or water; mud, in particular, helping it to keep cool. Large herds of Wild Water Buffalo may threaten nesting sites of water birds as well as impact Caiman populations. Trampling on flora may damage certain species; however, its faeces is believed to be a fertiliser for particular plants.

The Wild Water Buffalo grazes predominantly on grasses, but it may also eat fruit and bark. It is a selective feeder and will walk long distances in search of food. The Wild Water Buffalo forms maternal groups of a loosely structured herd of 20 – 100 individuals. Young males form small bachelor herds of up to 10 individuals while old males remain solitary. The female gives birth to a single offspring; the gestation period is 10 – 11 months. Tigers, crocodiles and Asian Black Bears prey on the Wild Water Buffalo