Ecology and Management of the African Buffalo

This interdisciplinary volume covers the ecology, conservation and management of the African buffalo, one of iconic Africa's Big Five.

Alexandre Caron (Edited by), Daniel Cornélis (Edited by), Philippe Chardonnet (Edited by), Herbert H. T. Prins (Edited by)

9781316518748, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 November 2023

588 pages, 1 colour illus.
23.5 x 15.5 x 3.2 cm, 1.062 kg

One of iconic Africa's Big Five, the African buffalo is the largest African bovine or antelope that occurs throughout most of sub-Sahara and in a wide range of ecosystems from savanna to rainforest. The African buffalo is also one of the most successful large African mammals in terms of abundance and biomass. This species thus represents a powerful model to enhance our understanding of African biogeography and wildlife conservation, ecology and management. Edited by four researchers experienced in different aspects of the African buffalo's biology, this volume provides an exhaustive compilation of knowledge on an emblematic species that stands out as an important component of African natural and human ecosystems. It delivers a global view of the African buffalo and all known aspects of its ecology and management. This book will appeal to students, scholars, scientists and wildlife managers as well as those enthusiastic about the charismatic species. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

1. African buffalo and the human societies in Africa: social values and interaction outcomes B. Mukamuri, E. Wichatitsky, E. Gandiwa, A. Perrotton, O. L. Kupika and L. Monin
Part I. Conservation D. Cornélis: 2. The evolutionary history of the African buffalo: is it truly a Bovine? H. H. T. Prins, J. F. de Jong and D. Geraads
3. Taxonomic status of the African buffalo J. Michaux, N. Smitz and P. Van Hooft
4. Conservation status of the African buffalo: a continent-wide assessment D. Cornélis, P. C. Renaud, M. Melletti, D. Fonteyn, H. Bonhotal, M. Hauptfleisch, A. Asefa, T. Breuer, L. Korte, P. Scholte, P. Elkan, E. Kohi, S. Mwiu, S. Ngene, P. Omondi, S. P. Tadjo, T. Prin, A. Caron, H. H. T. Prins and P. Chardonnet
5. Habitat, space use and feeding ecology of the African buffalo R. Taylor, E. Bennitt, R. Fynn, L. Korte, R. Naidoo, A.Roug and D. Cornélis
Part II. Ecology H. H. T. Prins: 6. African buffalo social dynamics: what is a buffalo herd? A. Caron, E. Bennitt, E. Wielgus, D. Cornélis, E. Miguel and M. de Garine-Wichatitsky
7. Population dynamics of buffalo: the effects of droughts and non-equilibrium dynamics J. W. Hearne, M. J. S. Peel and H. H. T. Prins
8. The environments of the African buffalo, with different selection forces in different habitats H. H. T. Prins, J. Ottenburghs and P. Van Hooft
9. Infections and Parasites of free-ranging African buffalo R. G. Bengis, F. Gakuya, M. Munyeme, S. D. Fekadu, R. A. Kock and P. Chardonnet
Part III. Diseases A. Caron: 10. Characterisation of buffalo/cattle interactions for assessing pathogen transmission A. Caron, F. Rumiano, E. Wielgus, E. Miguel, A. Tran, M. T. Bah, V. Grosbois and M. de Garine-Wichatitsky
11. Host-Parasite interactions in African buffalo: a community-level perspective B. Beechler, E. Gorsich, C. Glidden, A. Jolles and V. O. Ezenwa
12. African buffalo and colonial cattle: is 'systems change' the best future for farming and nature in Africa? R. A. Kock, R. G. Bengis, F. D. Shiferaw, F. Gakuya, D. Mdetele, H. H. T. Prins, A. Caron and M. Kock
Part IV. Management P. Chardonnet: 13. African buffalo production systems D. Furstenburg, E. Gandiwa, Pa. Oberem and Pe Oberem
14. Management aspects of the captive-bred African buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) in South Africa L. Hoffman, C. Shepstone, K. Robertson and T. Tersia Needham
15. Handling and moving the African buffalo M. La Grange, N. J. La Grange, J. Mostert, J. Mostert-La Grange, R. Hoare, M. Kock, I. Lekolool and P. Chardonnet
16. Buffalo hunting: from a commodity to a high-value game species P. Chardonnet, R. Taylor, W. Crosmary, S. P. Tadjo, F. A. Ligate, R. Baldus, W. Siege and D. Cornélis
17. Knowns and unknowns on African buffalo ecology and management H. H. T. Prins, D. Cornélis, A. Caron and P. Chardonnet
18. Futures of the African buffalo A. Caron, R. Bourgeois, P. Chardonnet, D. Cornélis and H. H. T. Prins.

Subject Areas: Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]