PAPER TITLE :SOME ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE FOREST BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER NANUS) IN OKOMU NAT

JOURNAL Of SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY | VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1 2010

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : EJIDIKE, B. N., OLATUNJI, O. and DUROJAYE, G.
  • Abstract:

Activities and behaviour of the forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) in Okomu national park, Edo State - Nigeria were studied over eight months covering wet and dry seasons. Herd sizes, sex, age range, food and feeding habits of Syncerus caffer nanus were observed biweekly. The forest buffalo moved in herds but solitary male was occasionally observed. The herds comprised of males (21.4%), females (78.6%). The percentage of the adult buffalos and calves in the park are 92.9% and 7.1% respectively. Female forest buffalo dominated the herds. Some of the forest buffalo in the park were reddish while others were black. The forest buffalo feeds on both tree and grass species. They rested standing and/or in lying positions during the afternoon. Drinking and wallowing in water bodies within the park was a common practice of the animal.