Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Family: Bovidae
• Subfamily: Bovinae
• Genus: Bubalus
• Species: Bubalus arnee

Geographic Range

Oriental, Ethiopian: Water buffaloes, Bubalus bubalis, are a widely domesticated species world-around. They are most prevalent from Egypt to the Philippines, particularly in southern Asia. These artiodactyls are adapted to swampy areas and those locales subject to flooding, including southern Iraq, the Amazon, Australia, as well as in India and the Near and Far East. River buffaloes ( B. bubalis ) are routinely found at altitudes above 2,800m in Nepal and have also been maintained in mountainous regions of Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan. The fact that River water buffaloes thrive in areas as topographically and climatically diverse as Mediterranean Europe & France, Australia, South Africa, almost all of southern Asia, as well as in the New World is a testament to their versatility and reliability. (Encarta 1999, Fellhauer 1997, Macdonald 1987).

Bubalus arnee is the wild ancestor of bubalus bubalis and true wild populations survive in Assam and Orissa (India), Nepal, northern Thailand, and possibly Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam. Originally they were found from India to Indochina.

Physical Characteristics

Mass: 700 to 1200 kg.

Water buffaloes have a head and body length of 2.5-3 meters. Their tails measure 0.5 to 1 meter with a bushy tuft on the tip. At their shoulders they stand 1.5-1.8 meters. Adult females weigh between 700 and 800 kg and males average nearly 1200 kg. They have gray or black hair directed toward a tuft on their foreheads. The hair is short, coarse, stiff and sparse on the skin. Water buffaloes are large and clumsy with small ears, big, cloven hooves, and a long, narrow face.

Triangular-shaped, permanent horns normally curve inwards and backwards. They are heavy at the base, have marked cross wrinkles and are brandished by both sexes. The spread width of the horns, which can measure up to 1.2 meters along the outer edges, is larger than all other Bovids. (Encarta 1999, Ligda 1998, Fellhauer, 1997)

Natural History

Food Habits
Buffaloes are used in third-world nations where cultivated forage crops and pasture are limited. Livestock must eat poor quality forages. These forages are often supplemented green fodder or by-products from food, grain and oilseed processing. Unfortunately however, feedstuffs are usually in such short supply that few animals have a balanced diet. Nevertheless, the buffaloes subsist well under trying conditions. Tropical feedstuff, forest fodders and waste residues are a major part of the buffalo diet. Rice straw and small grain silage, when available and especially when treated, appear to provide good nutrition. Hungry buffaloes will eat twigs, bark and other unpalatable vegetation if given the opportunity. (Encarta 1999, Ligda 1998, Walker 1975)

Reproduction
A bull will lead several females off to create a small harem during mating season. After about ten months of gestation, one or two calves are born. As soon as it is able, the calf will follow the mother. Often, buffalo dams nurture a calf orphaned by the death of its mother.

The water buffalo is considered to be a poor breeder. They are slow maturing and slow in rebreeding after calving. Poor handling and nutrition is much to blame for this reputation. Matings occur mainly at night. It is also possible that Swamp/River crossbreed hybrids have reduced fertility (type/species distinction below).

Given proper nutrition, puberty is reached at around 18 months of age and breeding is year-round. Females cycle every 21 days and are in heat for approximately 24 hours, give-or-take depending on the specific area of the world. Females show few external signs of being in heat so it is difficult to determine timing. Frequent urination and a slight vaginal discharge are the most common signals of females entering estrus. The female service period, that is, the length of time between calving and next conception, is estimated between 100 and 150 days. Loss of male potency has been noticed generally at around 6-7 years.

B. bubalis has a surprisingly high mortality rate compared to other cattle. Calves can succumb quickly and in large numbers to viruses, parasites, bacteria and poor nutrition. In the third world countries in which the River buffalo are common, often the adult milk is sold, thus depriving the calves of nourishment. Heavy losses of B. bubalis calves throughout the world are in large measure caused by the roundworm Toxocara vitulorum. Most easily noticed symptoms are dehydration, weakness, dullness, severe diarrhea, coma and death. Roundworm infection is either prenatal or through larvae ingestion in milk. In addition, occasionally, a buffalo calf will drown when a larger adult rolls atop of it. (Ligda 1998, Ligda 1997, Macdonald 1987, Walker 1975)

Behavior
Bubalus bubalis are sociable animals which assemble in herds of variable sizes. Generally, their domesticated counterparts are molded into their chosen roles by owners and behavior is learned quickly that way. They choose to feed during early morning, at dusk and again at night. In the wild, they spend the largest part of the day chewing cud and sleeping. The incessant pestering of insects leads them to wallow in water and soil for protection. Water buffaloes escape insects by submerging themselves in water with only their nostrils exposed. Thus, they are often seen with a completely caked layer of mud covering their necks, legs and backs through which insects cannot penetrate. They also have fetlock joints which allow flexibility and nimble movement in mud.

In Australia, free ranging buffaloes instinctively select clean water areas to drink from, other areas to wallow in, and still others as "toilet areas". In addition, China's buffaloes reportedly are being "toilet trained" to defecate only at specific sites to avoid contaminating waterways with schistosome eggs. Depending on the role of the buffalo, humans generally determine the behavior of these domesticated animals to fit the needs of the farm or ranch they exist on.

Water buffaloes will not confront man unless injured or annoyed. Wild buffaloes are easily tamed enough to eat from the hand within a few weeks. They are docile with familiar persons but can be irritable around those to whom they are unaccustomed. (Ligda 1998, Macdonald 1987, Walker 1975)

Habitat
Given the incredibly large range of topography that water buffalo live in as domesticated beasts, habitat is widely variable. Cold, mountainous regions, temperate Europe, humid SE Asia, dry SW Asia and Africa are only a few of the areas in which herds of B. bubalis are currently used. Their habitats contrast accordingly. (Ligda 1998)

Economic Importance for Humans

Positive
Domesticated Bubalus bubalis cows yield milk of good quality and leather made from the skins is superb. The major source of ghee (cooking oil) in some Asian countries is butterfat from water buffaloes. The flesh is palatable and has given rise to a growing demand for buffalo meat. Water buffaloes are used as tractors and beasts of burden in southern Asia. They have been domesticated for over 5000 years. The working life of B. bubalis averages 11 years. Water buffalo are a trophy hunting species for many in Australia and in the United States. In some locales, they are run for entertainment in festivals. (Encarta 1999, Ligda 1997, Fellhauer 1997)

Conservation

Status:

IUCN: No special status
U.S. ESA: No special status
CITES: No special status

According to 1982 and 1992 FAO statistics, the world buffalo populations were 128 and 148 million, respectively. The buffalo population in Asia is consistently 95-96% of the world total. India contains 53% of the world Bubalus bubalis population, with China, Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh holding the next most significant national populations. Given the incredibly vital role of the water buffalo in the economies of third-world countries and their impressive numbers there, conservation isn't a concern at this time. (Ligda 1998)

Other Comments

There are two forms of "water buffalo": the River ( Bubalus bubalis ), which were found indigenously from India to Egypt and Europe, and the Swamp (Bubalus carabanesis) which were more likely originally found farther east from India to the Philippines. B. bubalis have 50 chromosomes, B. carabanesis, 48. Many taxonomists label the two as separate species on that basis. In any event, the above data are compiled for Bubalus bubalis.

Man has exploited the water buffalo from the earliest prehistoric times. Though water buffaloes were originally Asian animals, they arrived early (about 600 A.D.) in the Near East and North Africa. They were introduced in Europe by the crusaders of the Middle Ages. Herds of water buffalo have flourished in Central and South America. Far Eastern nations like China and Burma are also quite dependent on the species and their products.

B. bubalis are healthy animals when compared to similar domestic livestock. This good health is especially impressive because most live in humid, tropical regions racked with disease. Buffaloes are susceptible to most diseases and parasites that affect other cattle. Water buffalo are yet more exposed to afflictions because of their wallowing habits, disposing them to waterborne diseases.

The water buffalo's most concerning disease is likely pasteurellosis, or hemorrhagic septicemia, brought about by the Pasteurella multocida (P. septica) bacterium. Symptoms of the affliction are hard, painful swellings in the ventral neck region, swollen tongues and hyperaemic mucous membranes. Breathing also becomes labored and painful. Tuberculosis is another serious affliction affecting B. bubalis and much study has been devoted to its impact on populations.

The genus name Bubalus is sometimes spelled Bubalis (Encarta 1999, Ligda 1998, Ligda 1997, Walker 1975)

References

Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia '99 CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation, United States.

Fellhauer, N. 1997. "Virtual Surfari" (On-line), Available http://home.san.rr.com/surfari/ . (December 4, 1999)

Ligda, David J. May 28, 1997. "An Abridged History of Water Buffalo in the U.S.A." (On-line), Available http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/djligda/wblinks2.htm . (December 6, 1999)

Ligda, David J. February 16, 1998. "Water Buffalo Facts" (On-line), Available http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/djligda/wbfacts.htm . (December 6, 1999)

Macdonald, D. 1987. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Facts on File Publications, New York.

Walker, E. 1975. Mammals of the World, Third Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore & London.

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