Water Buffalo

River buffalo redirects here: For the fish sometimes known as river buffalo, see gasper goo.

For information on the controversy at the University of Pennsylvania, see Water buffalo incident.

The Water Buffalo is a very large ungulate and a member of the wild oxen family. The Arni or Wild Buffalo survives in the wild in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam and Thailand. The domestic Buffalo is very widespread in Asia, South America, North Africa and Europe. It is feral in northern Australia. Wild-living populations also exist in much of South-east Asia but their origin is uncertain: they may be the descendants of wild Water Buffalo, formerly domesticated ferals or a mixture of both. In Asia the population of wild Water Buffalo has become very sparse, and there is fear that no pure bred wild water buffalo exist anymore. Adults range in size from 250 kg to 500 kg for the domestic bred, but true wild water buffaloes can grow to very large size. Adult females typically weigh around 800kg, and the male up to 1200kg. The average weight of an adult male is 900 kg. The biggest wild water buffaloes are found in Thailand, which is the home for the last 50 wild buffaloes or so. Wild water buffalo's form lacks the round belly of domestic buffaloes. Due to interbreeding with feral and domestic species, weights can vary greatly even in populations in close proximity, and this is the major cause leading the true wild buffaloes to extinction. Buffaloes seem to have originated from South Asia, from India to South-East Asia.

The classification of the Water Buffalo is uncertain. Some authorities list a single species, Bubalus bubalus with three subspecies, the River Buffalo(B. bubalus bubalus) of South Asia and the Carabao or Swamp Buffalo (B. bubalus carabanesis) of the Philippines and Southeast Asia, plus the Arni or Wild Buffalo (B. bubalus arnee); others regard them as closely related but separate species. The Swamp Buffalo is primarily found in the eastern half of Asia and has 48 chromosomes. The River Buffalo is mostly found in western half of Asia, and has 50 chromosomes. Fertile offspring occurs between the two. It does not readily hybridise with cattle which have 60 chromosomes.

Milk from both of these animals may be used by many peoples, and is the traditional raw material for mozzarella cheese and curd due to its higher fat content. The chief dairy breed of Buffalo is the Murrah breed. Buffalo meat, sometimes called "Carabeef", is often passed off as beef in certain regions and is also a major source of export revenue for India which has the largest population of buffaloes in the world. However, in many Asian regions, buffalo's meat is less preferred due to its toughness. Water buffalo hide provides a tough and useful leather often used for shoes and motorcycle helmets.

Asia

Asia is the native home of the water buffalo, with 95% of the world population of water buffalo. Many Asian countries depend on the water buffalo as its primary bovine species. It is valuable for its meat and milk as well as the labour it performs. As of 1992 the Asian population was estimated at 141 million. The fat content of buffalo milk is the highest amongst farm animals and the butterfat is a major source of ghee in some Asian countries. Its success in Asia is evident by its extensive range. Both variants occur in Asia. River Buffalo are found in elevations of 2,800 m in Nepal, and Swamp Buffalo are found throughout the lowland tropics. Part of their success is due to their ability to thrive on poor foodstuffs and yet be valuable economically. Moreover they are much better suited to plough the muddy paddy fields as they are better adapted than white cattle (Bos taurus) to move in swamps.

In the wild, very few pockets of buffalo exist. The Indian wild buffalo is found in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand. This buffalo has the largest horns of any living animal. The average spread is about 1 m (3 ft 3 in), but one bull shot in 1955 had horns measuring 4.24 m (13 ft 11 in) from tip to tip along the outside curve across the forehead. These massive battering rams protect the beast in the wild efficiently enough that even its predator seldom attacks a fully grown male. Tiger is their only predator, which can kill a full-grown male weighed 1000-1200kg, but only an experienced tiger will take them on, by hamstringing their hind legs first. When faced by a tiger, they form a line facing the predator and charge with noses out and horns laid back. Unlike its other family member, the gaur, The buffalo is a very dangerous animal known to charge without being provoked. It is generally found in swamplands and grass jungles and moves in herds.

Today, the estimated population of wild water buffaloes are about 4000, but, this number takes into account all wild population, including feral herds and hybrid buffaloes. In fact, it is possible that no true wild species exist anymore.

The water buffalo, or "Carabao," is the national animal of the Philippines.

Australia

Introduced into the Northern Territory early in the 19th century as a beast of burden, it quickly escaped and is now feral. As a result of its feral status it is hunted. Melville Island is a popular hunting location, where a steady population of up to 4,000 individuals exist. Buffaloes are also found in Arnhem Land and the Top End. Safari outfits run out of Darwin to Melville Island and other locations in the Top End often with the use of bush pilots. The government has unsuccessfully attempted several eradication programs.

The buffaloes live mainly in freshwater marshes and billabongs, and their range can be quite expansive during the Wet season. They have developed a different appearance from the Indonesian buffaloes from which they descend.

Europe and Middle East

Introduced into North Africa and the Near East by 600 AD, the water buffalo was brought to Europe with returning Crusaders in the Middle Ages, and herds can be found in Bulgaria and Italy. As in Asia, buffaloes of the Middle East and Europe live on coarse vegetation on the marginal land traditionally available to peasants. They are an economic asset by serving as a protein source, draft animal, and storage of family or household wealth. In some areas, they also provide occasional recreation at annual racing festivals. These buffalo are mostly River Buffaloes; due to genetic isolation have adopted a distinct appearance. Buffalo milk is used in Italy and elsewhere for the production of cheese, including mozzarella.

Trivia

American bison are often called buffalo; however, this is technically incorrect as they are not true wild oxen, although they are a related family of wild bovines. The wild ox family includes water buffaloes and gaur. The gaur is sometimes called Indian Bison, which is also incorrect.

References

Guinness Book of Records, 2005

External links

Beef | Bovines | Livestock | Mammals of India | Wildlife of Southeast Asia