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African Buffalo

The African buffalo is the only African species of the large international Bovidae family, which includes the American Bison, and European domesticated cattle.

The Buffalo that Americans refer to is actually a Bison. It is also called the American Buffalo. It is the heaviest land animal in North America. It lives in parks and reserves, inhabiting flat grasslands. Bison can run at speeds up to 30 mph (48 kph). Although the bison almost went extinct in the late 1800's due to over-hunting, it is now recovering.

Anatomy: The Bison is up to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall at the shoulder. It can weigh up to a ton (900 kg). Bulls (males) are larger than cows (females). Both bulls and cows have horns. Buffaloes have a life span of 12-15 years.

Diet: These herbivores (plant-eaters) graze on grass, twigs and shrubs. They swallow their food without chewing it and later regurgitate a cud and chew it.