AnimalID

Name

5030

African Buffalo

LocationName:

Africa

Origin:

Original ZT

PurchaseCost:

$1,200

RequiresResearch:

No

IsClimber:

No

IsJumper:

No

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Description:

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

The native habitat of the African buffalo is the savannah of central and southern Africa. Although these animals can survive under all sorts of conditions found within this region, their ideal habitat is an open area containing high grassy thickets and the occasional tree for cover, with access to a permanent supply of water and mud for wallowing. The buffalo grazes on a wide assortment of savannah grasses. Its long, prehensile tongue allows it to consume the taller, coarse grass usually avoided by other herd animals.

The African buffalo roams in large herds. Each herd has an established range that rarely overlaps with the ranges of other buffalo. The social behavior among buffalo is highly cooperative; for instance, if a herd crosses into a solitary bull's territory, that bull will lead the herd through its land and then allow the next bull to take over at the boundary. At rest, related animals within a herd will often lie with their backs touching or with chins propped on each other's backs. In the open spaces of the African savannah, buffalo herds can often contain 500 to 2,000 individuals. Because of their relatively large size and need for space, they are kept in much smaller groups in captivity.

African buffalos tend to be quiet animals, except for grunts and bellows during the mating season. On the whole, the African buffalo is rather placid, except when it is injured or threatened. When threatened, the buffalo will aggressively shake its head, presenting its formidable horns to its opponent. An angry buffalo will also stamp its feet and charge. In a herd, this behavior is contagious; one enraged buffalo can quickly upset the other animals. With poor eyesight and hearing, these animals depend greatly upon their keen sense of smell, which can detect a predator 800 feet away.

Although adult buffalo, weighing in at over 1,000 pounds, are generally safe from attack, they will vigorously protect their young from such predators as lions and hyenas. On occasion, their thick hides enable them to escape through dense thornbushes that would deter most animals. At a speed of up to 35 mph, buffalo are capable of outrunning a pursuing lion, but can be ambushed in spite of this since it is difficult for them to get up to speed quickly. Only lions are capable of bringing down a healthy adult buffalo, and even then they run a considerable risk of being treed, gored, or trampled by an enraged herd.

Attractiveness Adult:

Attractiveness Young:

Initial Happiness:

Habitat Preference:

5

15

60

70

Captivity:

Crowd:

CrowdHappiness Change:

ClimbsCliffs:

5

30

-5

No

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Animal Density:

Min

Number of Animals/Exhibit

Max

20

2

10

Terrain Name

Value

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Savannah grass

80

16

32

48

64

80

96

112

128

144

160

Dirt

10

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Fresh water

5

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Sand

5

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Rocks

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Foliage

5

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Elevation

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Exhibit Size

100

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

TreeName

Foliage Effect

Cost/ Square

Cost Effectiveness

7060

3

Tall Grass

24

$300

8.0

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

RockName

Size X

Size Y

Rock

Rock Effect

Purchase Cost

Cost Effective

None

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Shelter ID

Shelter Name

Shelter Value

Shelter Effect

Purchase Cost

Capacity

Requires Research

8115

Large Stable

24

14

$700

5

Yes

8109

Large Concrete Shelter

20

10

$225

6

Yes

8114

Stable

20

10

$500

3

8112

Large Wood Shelter 

18

8

$325

6

Yes

8113

Small Stable

16

6

$300

2

8108

Concrete Shelter

16

6

$175

4

8111

Wood Shelter

16

6

$225

4

8107

Small Concrete Shelter

13

3

$125

2

8110

Small Wood Shelter

13

3

$175

2

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ToyID

ToyName

ToyValue

PurchaseCost

None

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

ReproductionChance:

High

SickChance:

5

ReproductionInterval(months):

5

SickChange:

-12

HappyReproduceThreshold:

95

DeathChance:

20

Offspring:

1

TimeDeath(months):

24

BabyToAdult(months):

4

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

Compatible Animals

Prey Animals

Thomsons Gazelle

8

KeeperFoodType:

Hay

Giraffe

8

Bengal Tiger

Hippopotamus

8

Cheetah

Common Wildebeest

8

Leopard

Okapi

0

Black Leopard

Snow Leopard

Clouded Leopard

Jaguar

Spotted Hyena

White Bengal Tiger

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?