Trained research scientist and wildlife expert shares 5 simple bush craft skills to employ the next time you encounter Cape Buffaloes
Cape Buffaloes are responsible for around 200 deaths annually and have killed more big game hunters than any other wild animal.
It is said, Cape Buffaloes have killed more big game hunters than any other animal and that is why they belong to the Big 5.
According to the statistics, cape buffaloes are responsible for around 200 deaths per year, mostly by goring their victims to death using their sharp horns.
The king of the Jungle also fear these beasts and steer clear unless in groups and they usually pick the weakest calves or injured buffaloes.
Buffalo will mob any predator that dares to take its young.
Business Insider SSA recently had a chat with Kenya’s elephant man and wild life expert, Jim Justus Nyamu who has walked the breath of this earth teaching communities about conservation of wild life and why we cannot survive without elephants through his #IvoryBelongstoElephants campaign.
“It all depends on the wild animal you encounter but generally I will say wild animals are not harmful they are very friendly for lack of a better word it all depends on how we behave around them”
So the next you are in the wild and you see a herd of buffaloes here are some bush craft skills to ensure you don’t find yourself between their sharp horns.
#1. Be on the look out
When you see Cape Buffalo in Africa, they’re usually not alone therefore keep your distance.
They usually move around in very large (and intimidating) herds and therefore always have numbers on their side.
“Buffaloes are considered ingenious animals because they are not found everywhere they are usually found in a thick forest”
#2. Observe your environment
Buffaloes hate foreign company even when looking at them through binoculars from a distance; the males always seem to be staring right at you with intense dislike.
“the first thing you do whenever you in such places be very keen, be observant on what is happening around you, check for birds and smells”
“Buffaloes smell because of the mud in their coats, we call it wallowing in the mud so that is how the smell comes from so while in the wild be keen on this smell ”
#3. Check for birds
Cattle Egrets birds have a symbiotic relationships with many different animals all over the world including Buffaloes.
Egrets are small, white birds that follow cows and Buffaloes around and eat bugs and ticks that bite and tend to bother them in return Buffaloes leave them to have a field day without minding them at all.
“Then you need to be on the lookout for white birds we call them egrets birds which keep on pooping up because they feed on bugs and ticks on Buffaloes coats so whenever you see these birds know Buffaloes are near by."
#4.Check for mud trails
Buffaloes love wallowing in the mud to protect their skins from the harsh African sun as well as suffocating bugs on their skin coats.
whenever they are walking they leave behind trails of mud which is a clue to walk in a different direction.
"You can see where they are passing because they leave a trail of mud as they are coming from muddy areas so be on the look out and avoid passing through those areas”
#5. Stay away from wind
Like most wild animals save for nocturnal animals buffaloes have poor eyesight and depend most of the time on the wind to pick up scents of predators and so it is advisable to stay away from where the wind is blowing towards.
There are simple ways to know the direction of wind while in the wild.
“if you pass those areas then you must be very ready to be attacked by buffaloes”
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