Bubalus bubalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is one of the oldest species of domesticated livestock, used as a draft animal and a source of milk and meat. A large animal it stands 1.5 - 1.9 meters tall, with a body length of 2.4 to 3.6 meters. Male bulls can weigh as much as 1200 kilograms. Wild Asian buffalo are found in tropical and subtropical forests and in wet grasslands, marshes and swamps. They require water and spend time wallowing in rivers or mud holes. The native range of the water buffalo stretched from eastern Nepal, India to Malaysia. Wild populations have declined. By 2004, it was estimated that there were fewer than 4000 animals in the wild. They have been introduced from prehistoric times to the Near East, North Africa, Europe and recently to the United States, South and Central America, Australia and Oceania for farming- for their hide and meat. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons (user: Da) In Australia, most feral water buffalo are found in the their wallowing stirs up mud making the water body Northern Territory. They inhabit wetlands and floodplains unsuitable for aquatic species. They cause swim channels where they have access to food and water. In low-rainfall and breaks in levees leading to salt intrusion. They compete years they are restricted to more permanent wetlands with native species for food. in the northern part of their range. Water buffalo harbor Degradation of waterholes and wetland habitats may also diseases like Bovine tuberculosis and Brucellosis that impact on native species such as the Endangered (EN) can infect domestic livestock. By the 1970’s population Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) and the yellow-billed numbers in Australia were so high that an eradication Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia). Habitat degradation can campaign was implemented that almost wiped the whole have an impact on the breeding success of the white-bellied population. sea-eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and decreases in the In the Northern Territory they degrade wetland habitats, nesting activity of magpie geese (Anseranas semipalmata). References: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. [link] ISSG 2012. Global Invasive Species Database [link] Jesser, P., Markula, A., Csurhes, S., 2008. Pest animal risk assessment: Water buffalo Bubalus bubalis The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 2008. [link] Click here to view archives of previous weeks’ species.