What is interesting about the Indian buffalo?
The Indian buffalo is considered one of the mostlarge bulls. This ruminant mammal is an animal that weighs about a ton. The buffalo body is dense in its composition and covered with coarse black-brown hair. The bull has powerful legs and a wide, lowered head, which is adorned with thick, turned-back horns 194 centimeters long. Scientists say that the animal is not very sharp, but its sense of smell and hearing are magnificent!
Where does the bull live?
Despite its name, the buffalo lives only on thesmall parts of India. Its habitat mainly extends to Southern China, Nepal, North Africa and Middle China. The Indian bull is among the number of endangered animals. Therefore, a herd of buffalo dwells in protected areas. For example, it is known that in Kazirang there are several hundred of these animals. They try to stay close to the rivers. In the wild, bulls live near the marshy jungle. True, sometimes they are attacked by alligators. In most cases, the herd safely fights off predators. In the worst case - one buffalo still dies from the teeth of crocodiles.
Bulls are not found outside the reservoirs. Therefore, they are called "water". The animals are kept in small herds, which consist of 3 males and several females with young animals. The diet of their nutrition consists of meadow grasses and water plants. Sometimes in the course are branches of trees that are around water bodies. Bulls graze at night and at dawn, when the air is cool. In the hot noon, animals tend to hide in the shade or soak in the mud.
The most important in the herd
Leader - the so-called Indian buffalo, whichhas the right to leadership. He is the oldest in the group and keeps slightly away from the bulk. At first glance, the animal indifferently chews the weed and from time to time boredly raises its head to look around.
However, it is necessary to appear to the stranger, the elderbecomes in a threatening pose and publishes a warning roar. This is the signal for the herd - to run! But this is not cowardly behavior. Bulls purposely make a circle so that the pursuers begin to move in their tracks.
As a result, animals form a closed system and,concluding strangers into it, trying to force them out of their territory or to destroy them. Indian buffalo - a dangerous enemy for wild predators! For example, if there is a collision of bulls and tigers, the latter always perish. Buffaloes perfectly coexist with phlegmatic rhinoceroses. They often peacefully graze with each other in the neighborhood.
Change of power
The bull-leader is often unruly and aggressive. Therefore, despite its authority, it is often expelled from the herd. In this case, he has to cope with a lonely existence. Its place is occupied by a younger Indian buffalo. Photo of the animal tells us his sense of superiority over others and shows a real fighting spirit.
Now his task is to protect his flock and take care of him! In the telecasts about animals, the Indian buffalo patiently pushes the lagging females. Each cow brings one calf.
Newborn baby has yellow fur with brownishshade. The period of feeding calves lasts 7-9 months. It should be noted that the locals have long tamed the animal with the name "Indian buffalo". Description of the external data of the domestic beast and wild are no different. The only thing is, the level of aggression of a tamed buffalo is lower than that of a free bull.
Indian buffalo and people
In many southern countries these animals are ordinarylivestock, where people move and carry various loads. In agricultural work, Indian buffaloes are indispensable helpers. The women are milked the same way as the cows.
Their milk is much fatter than cow's and finesuitable for making cheeses and sour cream. Home buffalo are quite peaceful animals. There are cases when free lone oxen take tamed females with them. Over time, buffaloes are wild and remain free to live.
Local residents annually organize a holiday inthe honor of his assistants. It happens this way - the wool of animals is cleaned, hooves and horns polish to a mirror shine and decorate them with colorful ribbons, garlands and flowers. Then follows a solemn parade of animals, which the next day is replaced by ordinary workdays.
