The African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large African bovid. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2 as well as Zoo Tycoon DS.
Description[]
The African Buffalo is a large member of the cattle family native to Sub-Saharan Africa. There are four subspecies, the largest of which is the Cape Buffalo, which is found across swamps, floodplains and savannahs across Eastern and Southern Africa. Large males can weigh up to 1,000kg (2,200lbs) and are identifiable by their large horns, which fuse at the base to form a shield known as a Boss. Females are slightly smaller and their horns do not form a boss. African buffalo are grazers and can eat grass more quickly than many other African herbivores. They are almost always found near a reliable water source.
African buffalo are very social, living in herds typically made up of related females and their young, overseen by a few males, one of which is dominant over the others. Buffalo have few predators, with only the Lion and the Nile Crocodile known to attack and kill fully-grown adults. These attacks are rare, as buffalo have been known to attack and kill lions and will often move to assist a herd-member that is being attacked, especially a calf.
Zoo Tycoon[]
The African Buffalo is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and is available in the base game. In Freeform mode, it is not adoptable until December 1, making it one of the last animals to be available.
The African Buffalo is a savannah animal and is very social, requiring at least 3 animals to be happy. It is possible to have the African buffalo coexist with other savannah animals like the Plains Zebra, Black Rhinoceros and African Elephant.
Unique to the animal, the African buffalo does not like any rocks and does not require rocks in its enclosure, in fact, rocks will lower its habitat suitability. Like many animals in Zoo Tycoon, the African buffalo's habitat requirements don't add up to 100, making it impossible for the player to achieve a habitat suitability of 100%. The highest habitat suitability the African buffalo can have is 97% by going over its normal foliage limit.
 Animal Facts
|
|---|
|
The African, or Cape, buffalo is the only living African species of the tribe Bovini, which includes the American bison and European domesticated cattle. These animals are highly adaptable and can survive in many types of environments, including thorny bushlands thanks to their thick hide. However, their ideal habitat is an open area containing high grassy thickets with sparse woodlands and a permanent supply of water for wallowing. Buffalo graze on tall and coarse grasses with their long, prehensile tongues. Males are larger than females, weighing in at around 900kg and 500kg respectively. While adults are safe from most attacks, their young are vulnerable to predators such as leopards and spotted hyenas. Only lions are capable of bringing down a healthy adult buffalo, and not without the risk of being gored or trampled by an angered herd. Despite their large mass and stocky appearance, they can run at speeds up to 35 mph, allowing them to outrun a pursuing predator. The African buffalo roams in large herds that contain 500 to 2,000 individuals, far greater numbers than those of captive groups. Buffalo herds have established ranges that rarely overlap with the ranges of other herds. The social behavior among buffalo is highly cooperative; if a herd crosses into a solitary bull's territory, that bull will lead the herd through its land and then allow the next bull to take over at the boundary. Related herd members will often rest close together for protection. African buffalo tend to be quiet animals, except for grunts and bellows during the mating season. While African buffalo are generally placid, they will turn aggressive if injured or threatened. When threatened, the buffalo will aggressively shake its head, presenting its horns to the source of danger. An angry buffalo will also stamp its feet and charge. In a herd, this behavior is contagious; one provoked buffalo can quickly upset nearby herd members. With poor eyesight and hearing, these animals depend greatly upon their keen sense of smell, which can detect a predator 800 feet away. |
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The African Buffalo is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the African Adventure expansion pack. It is available from the start of Campaign and Challenge mode, as a half star animal.
The African buffalo is a Wetlands animal but will also tolerate the Savannah and Grassland biomes to a lesser extent. Unlike the original Zoo Tycoon, the African buffalo can swim in Zoo Tycoon 2.
Though it is able to be hunted by a single large predator, the African buffalo has coding to try and charge at any medium and large predators, specifically if there are young nearby. African buffalos travel in herds after two or more individuals have mated. Male African buffalos may organize a stampede towards predators after a herd has been formed.
African buffalos feed on grass, branches, hay, and cycad leaves from terrain, dish, or trough feeders. They can also be fed carrots. Like other large herbivores, African buffalos are a low entertaining animal, only having the salt lick and carrot as enrichment. The African buffalo can use the salt lick to replenish some thirst and hunger. For shelters, the African buffalo can use the Shade Structure, Stables, or Wooden Shelters, If no shelter is present, the African buffalo will seek out shade to rest under.
 zootycoon.com Description
|
|---|
| The African buffalo is a large, imposing wild ox that inhabits southern and central Africa. It lives in a herd and is a cud-chewing herbivore with permanent horns that form a massive helmet called a “boss” over its forehead. The African buffalo is considered the most dangerous of all African big game species. |
Unused Male Model[]
The unused male African buffalo model (right) implemented into the game, standing next to a female.
The African buffalo is one of only a few animals to have an adult model go unused. The unused male African buffalo model has larger shoulders, a sloped back, and minor differences in the face, legs and horns. The model also has its own texture, meant for the male, which is also unused. The differences being small and limited to muscular and colour detail. The model is mostly complete aside from missing collision and LODs, it is unknown as to why the model ultimately went unused.
Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Trivia[]
- In Zoo Tycoon 2, the African buffalo is a cheap, minimum fame level animal, in spite of its real life popularity and being part of the "Big 5" game animals of Africa (which also include the African Elephant, Lion, Leopard, and Black Rhinoceros).
- Despite African buffalos exhibiting sexual dimorphism in their horns in real life, no Zoo Tycoon game has this difference.
- The African Adventure website animal box uses the young's texture on the adult model, instead of the adult's darker skin. This quirk is also noticeable on the Tyrannosaurus rex and Wildebeest.
| Zoo Tycoon DS animals | |
|---|---|
| Standard Animals | African Buffalo • African Elephant • African Lion • African Warthog • American Bighorn Sheep • American Bison • Arctic Wolf • Bengal Tiger • Black Bear • Black Leopard • Black Rhinoceros • California Sea Lion • Cheetah • Chimpanzee • Clouded Leopard • Common Wildebeest • Dromedary Camel • Emperor Penguin • Gemsbok • Giant Anteater • Giant Panda • Giraffe • Gray Wolf • Greater Flamingo • Grizzly Bear • Hippopotamus • Ibex • Jaguar • Leopard • Lowland Gorilla • Mandrill • Markhor • Moose • Okapi • Olive Baboon • Ostrich • Plains Zebra • Polar Bear • Red Kangaroo • Saltwater Crocodile • Siberian Tiger • Snow Leopard • Spotted Hyena • Thomson's Gazelle • White Bengal Tiger |
| Unlockable Content | Asian Elephant • Kouprey • Onager • Orangutan • Unicorn |