The African buffalo grazes in huge herds across the savannahs of central Africa and migrates year-round in search of green grasses. This peaceful cycle can turn violent in an instant when the buffalo senses a threat. This behemoth will charge full-speed at an enemy-even if the enemy isn't primed to attack. The African buffalo's thick horns gore victims and, combined with the force of the buffalo's charge, can very often be fatal.
Big Horns: An African buffalo's most impressive feature is its huge set of horns. They can measure more than six feet from tip to tip. They are curved and end in sharp points, making them deadly weapons against enemies.
Fly Swatter: This creature's three-foot tail ends in a little tuft of fur. The buffalo uses this to swat at flies, mosquitoes and other pests that try to bite it.
Charge![]
Sensing a threat, the buffalo sets to attack.
It doesn't take much to tick off an African buffalo, and any animal that does should run-fast. Instinct causes this huge creature to charge immediately at any enemy, and a buffalo at top speed can hit 35 miles per hour. With a one-ton body and curved, pointy horns, this beast collides with enemies like a killer freight train. The African buffalo shows little fear, and has even been known to charge and kill lions that were simply resting nearby.
Internal Threat: Males fight for dominance of a herd. Rivals display threats by hunching their shoulders and violently raking their horns through the mud. If neither backs down, they charge at each other and clash with their massive horns.
Protect the Herd: African buffalo live in herds that vary in size from 50 to 3,000 members. These animals protect each other so well that even blind buffaloes can reach old age without being picked off by predators.
Payback[]
- As a hunter creeps through the African wilderness looking for big game, he stumbles upon an African buffalo. The man crouches low, takes aim and fires. He hits the animal, but doesn't kill it-all he managed to do was enrage the buffalo.
- The buffalo, mad from the pain of being shot, quickly turns around toward its enemy. Surprisingly fast and agile for such a large creature, the buffalo charges at the hunter. With a quick turn of the head, the buffalo stabs the man with a horn, killing him on the spot.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The African buffalo is mentioned on several other cards:
- The African buffalo is both mentioned and shown as prey on the Spotted Hyena card, and a dead one is discovered and eaten by a Lappet-Faced Vulture.
- The Ringhals trading card mentions their venomous spray being able to stop a buffalo.
- The African buffalo is featured as part of one of the example creatures in Create-A-Monster on Monster Mania 36.
- The African buffalo is one of three hoofed African herbivores in the Nightmares of Nature category, along with the Hippopotamus and Black Rhino.