Cape Buffalo
The Cape buffalo (or Syncerus caffer caffer) inhabits a wide range of ecosystems across sub-Saharan Africa, including savannas, open woodlands, floodplains, and grasslands, but it is always closely tied to permanent water sources. Its range extends from eastern and southern Africa through parts of central Africa, wherever suitable grazing and water are available.
In appearance, the Cape buffalo is a massive, powerfully built animal with a dark brown to nearly black coat, a broad muzzle, and strong legs. Adult males are especially distinctive for their thick, curved horns that join at the base to form a heavy bony shield, or “boss,” across the forehead.
Adults are 1.4m to 1.7m tall and measure up to 3.4m in length. Males usually weigh between 500kg and 900kg, while females weigh between 400kg and 600kg.
Syncerus caffer caffer
Habitat needs
Space is stored as a minimum plus an amount per additional adult; the game's help adds that juveniles don't count. Plan a mixed habitat in the habitat planner.
Terrain
| Terrain | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Grass | 30% | 100% |
| Short Grass (Grass) | 25% | 100% |
| Sand | 0% | 30% |
| Soil | 10% | 40% |
| Rock | 0% | 20% |
| Waterlogged | 0% | 10% |
Share of the habitat's terrain.
Shares a cohabitation group with 16
African Savannah
African temperate group
Cohabitation groups are the game's own sets of species for mixed habitats. Check space, terrain and temperature for a group in the habitat planner.
Barriers with resistance grade 3 or higher 10
- Glass grade 3 · $2
- Wire Netting grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Wood Logs grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Acrylic grade 4 · $3
- Steel Mesh grade 4 · $3 · climbable
- Thick Glass grade 4 · $3
- Brick grade 5 · $4
- Concrete grade 5 · $4
- Gabion grade 5 · $4 · climbable
- Electric grade 6 · $0.80
At least 1.25 m high. No water barrier. Grades are the ones the game's barrier tooltips state.
Enrichment it uses 6
- Grab Ball Toy · score 50 · $100
- Large Ball Toy · score 100 · $100
- Plant Screen Toy · score 100 · $100
- Rubbing Pillar Toy · score 100 · $100
- Skittle Toy · score 50 · $100
- Mud Bath Toy · score 150
Enrichment target: toys 60 + 40 per additional adult; feeders 8 + 5 per additional adult.
Food, life and breeding
- Food
- Hay + Herbivore Pellets
- Food / drink amount
- 5 / 50
- Food cost, grade 1 / 2 / 3
- $290 / $394 / $394
- Feeders
- Food Trough - Large, Food Trough - Medium, Food Trough - Small, Barrel Feeder - Large, Barrel Feeder - Hanging, Hanging Grazer Feeder, Melon Feeder, Scarecrow Feeder, Grazing Ball Feeder, Wall Feeder - Large, Wall Feeder - Small, Wall Feeder - Medium
- Lifespan
- 11–32 yr
- Mature / prime / old / elderly
- 4 yr / 5 yr / 8 yr / 16 yr
- Gestation / between births
- 0.96 yr / 1.04 yr
- Litter
- 1–1
- Fertility
- 0.4
- Mating system
- Polygynous
- Breeds in
- All seasons
- Dominance
- Dominant male bull, Female herds with age based dominance
- Ecosystem roles
- Terrestrial Seed Dispersers, Large Prey, Low Browsers
- Wild population
- 564,000
- Guests flee if it escapes
- Yes
Cape buffalo live in herds made up of related female groups, with bachelor groups and solitary dominant males on the periphery of the female group. A herd can be made up of many of these groups.
Overview
- Scientific name
- Syncerus caffer caffer
- Class
- Mammalia
- Conservation status
- Near Threatened
- Biome
- Grassland, Wetlands
- Continent
- Africa
- Cohabitation groups
- African Savannah, African temperate group
- Content
- Base game