1. Water buffalo live on every continent except Antarctica
Domesticated water buffalo live in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North and South America. They are known as natural “tractors” and work in the field of agriculture. However, the number of wild water buffalo populations is decreasing, these animals only live in certain natural environments of Asia and especially Southeast Asia. Therefore, you can find these buffalo in the reserves of India, Nepal, Thailand and Bhutan.

Water buffalo are known as natural “tractors”.

Because of habitat loss and extreme stunting due to lack of natural food sources, wild water buffaloes now live only in remote or protected areas, but this is not a preferred habitat. their likes. The preferred habitats of wild water buffalo are dense forests and swamps, as these areas have their preferred cover, water and food sources. Water buffalo can sometimes migrate, especially during the rainy season.

2. Different subspecies of water buffalo live in different regions
The water buffalo is native to India, Southeast Asia and China, they mainly have two subspecies living in different regions namely the river buffalo living in the Indian subcontinent, the Balkans, Egypt and Italy, and the water buffalo. Swamp lives in Assam, Southeast Asia and China.

3. A water buffalo can weigh more than 2 grizzly bears
Wild water buffaloes can be up to 3 meters long and up to 1 meter 9 feet tall from foot to shoulder. They are dark gray to black with huge horns. Wild male water buffalo horns can be 5 meters long. Males are usually larger than females and weigh about 1.2 tons. Meanwhile, domesticated water buffalo are usually smaller in size, weighing between 453 kg and 900 kg, but some can be heavier.

4. Water buffalo is a semi-aquatic mammal
Water buffalo like to immerse themselves in river water, swamps, sometimes they can soak in the water like hippos. They do this because they don’t have sweat glands to cool themselves down. Instead, water buffalo use cool water to regulate body temperature in warm and humid climates. These buffaloes also take a dip in the water to avoid insect bites in humid jungle areas. Water buffaloes also use their large horns to shovel mud on the riverbed and swamps. This behavior is called wallowing.

Water buffaloes like to immerse themselves in river water, swamps…

Their diet is mainly grass. They also eat fruit, shrubs, bark and leaves. Wild water buffalo forage at dusk and dawn in open fields. This feeding time helps them avoid the worst heat of the day.

5. Domesticated water buffalo is threatening the life of wild water buffalo
Domesticated buffalo species have become a threat to wild water buffalo because of inter-breeding. If these species mate, wild water buffalo will lose their genetic identity and face diseases coming from domestic buffaloes and buffaloes. In addition, humans are also a significant threat to wild water buffalo.

Wild water buffalo populations are declining sharply because people hunt them for meat and horns. In addition, these animals face predators such as tigers, leopards and crocodiles in the wild.

Humans are also a significant threat to wild water buffalo.

6. Water buffaloes are pregnant a little longer than humans
Female buffaloes usually give birth to one calf per year and are pregnant for 10 to 11 months. They usually live in herds of females and young. Males leave the mother flock after three years, but the female usually stays in the mother herd for life. Wild water buffalo usually live for 25 years, while domesticated buffalo live for 40 years.

Researchers are not 100% sure how many water buffaloes inhabit our planet, but it is estimated that there are more than 165 million individuals. The researchers are also uncertain about the current total wild water buffalo population because they live in remote, hard-to-reach areas. However, the researchers estimate that there are about 4,000 wild water buffalo. Their populations are declining as wild water buffalo interbreed with domestic buffalo.

It is estimated that there are more than 165 million water buffaloes on the planet.

7. Water buffalo can be raised to provide milk for humans, just like dairy cows
Water buffalo milk has higher protein, calcium, lactose, phosphorus and iron content than regular cow’s milk. Milk of this species also has less cholesterol and water. An estimated 70 million tons of buffalo milk are produced each year. India produces a large portion of this, supplying nearly 57 million tonnes of water buffalo milk in 2008. In addition, the milk of this species is used to produce cheese, buttermilk, whey and butter. People use buffalo milk to make Italian-style mozzarella, domiati, kesong puti, and surti paneer.

Brazilian military officers ride water buffalo while on patrol.

People all over the world domesticated water buffalo and used them in agriculture. However, Brazil can use this animal for a different purpose. The country uses water buffalo as a means of transportation for some military officers. On Marajó, a Brazilian island, water buffaloes exist in greater numbers than humans and are a part of daily life for its inhabitants. Since the 1990s, military officers here have ridden water buffalo while on patrol. They also became a preferred form of transport because they were better swimmers than dogs and more agile than horses in marshy areas.