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Hi

I am busy with research on the buffalo.
I have done a lot of reading on the different sub-species and want to know if the Syncerus caffer nanus (dwarf / red / forest buffalo) is found anywhere in South Africa?


Thanks,
Suezet

In a natural state, no. Perhaps in zoos.

Sjoe, dankie!
Dit was vinnig.

I heard from someone that the buffalo in the Addo elephant park looks different than the ones in the Kruger National Park, so I thought they were Syncerus caffer nanus.

Thanks!

Rooies is correct.

The Buffalo in Addo is exactly the same as those in KNP and the rest of SA.

Out of interest, on documentaries, you hear buffalo being referred to as "cape Buffalo" and "Water buffalo" - are these the same species, and different sub-species, or different species altogether ?


I need to be educated

As far as I know this is how it all works

Species 1:
Cape Buffalo/Plains Buffalo
The one we all see all over Africa, in semi-arid environments (including Kruger, Addo, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, etc., etc.,)

Species 2:
Forest Buffalo/Dwarf Buffalo
The one that is smaller (often seen in zoo's) and is found in forests in central Africa.

Species 3:
Water Buffalo/Asian Buffalo
Native to Asia this buffalo has become one of the asian peoples livestock (like cattle in Kenya...)

These are just the ones I know about, I might be wrong??
Hope this helps

Hello, and a warm welcome, suezetp!

Good questions!

All Africa's buffalo are of the same species, while the asiatic Water Buffalo is an entirely different one, domesticated or not!

The Addo buffalo are a little different, genetically, IMO in that they are the survivors of a long, small and isolated line of thicket-dwelling buff's that have developed an inclination to having small horns, and being smaller in stature, presumably due to the fact that the bigger-horned bulls were mercilessly hunted first from around the 1700's!

Maybe their habitat has also shrunk them a bit, due to feeding constraints?

Google would lead you to various definitions regarding subspecies...

This morning I saw buffalo in Tanzania reffered to as Water Buffalo on National Geographic!

People calling any African Buffalo a water buffalo are ignorant, that at times include comments mad on TV channels such as National Geographic. It is the same as some famous blond commenting on the tigers in Kruger.

Addo Buffalo have undergone a genetic reduction due to the fact that they were isolated and numbers were hunted to really low levels, but they are not in anyway seen as a sub species. They do not qualify for such a distinction.

And where do the buffalo they have in europe(mainly italy) to make buffalo mozzeralla fall into the mix ?

Hi

In my research I have now read a lot about the (mainly African) buffalo.

For interest's sake:

Buffalo mozzarella cheese is made from the milk of water or river buffalo.
It is mainly produced in Italy, but there are producers in South Africa (Cape).
The buffalo used in South Africa were actually imported from Australia.

Thanks for all the info on the sub-species of the African buffalo. It helped me a lot!



Suezet