The primary habitat requirements of Cape Buffalo are a plentiful supply of grass, shade and water. Cape Buffalo are primarily grazers, and like to drink twice a day: they often wade into the water up to their bellies when drinking. They therefore occur in the better-watered northern and eastern parts of the southern African subregion, and avoid arid areas.
Cape Buffalo do not frequent wide open grasslands that are far from the shade they require for resting up in during the heat of the day, although they do move seasonally and may cross large, open expanses. They often graze in the vacinity of water, resting in the vacinity of reedbeds. The bulls often wallow in mud, which not only helps keep them cool, but is good for their skin and helps control biting insects.
Feeding & Diet
Cape Buffalo have the most efficient digestive system for digesting fibrous food of any of the ruminants. While they will feed on fresh, new grass such as occurs in freshly burnt areas, they also readily eat old grass, and can adequately cope with digesting it. Their habit of eating old grass and trampling it helps to open up these areas to other species by enabling new growth on them.
During the rainy season, when food is abundant, Cape Buffalo become selective feeders, and prefer red grass, buffalo grass, small buffalo grass, and finger grasses. Cape Buffalo are sensitive to heat, and move into the shade during the heat of the day. Much of their feeding takes place at night, and they spend a large proportion of their time ruminating, especially during the dry season when the grass has a higher fibre content.
The mouth parts of Cape Buffalo are adapted for feeding on long grass, as they pull the grass into their mouths using their tongues, and bite stalks off by moving their lower incisors against the dental pad in their lower jaw.
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