BUFFALO SIGHTINGS - 2002

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LARGE HERD: APPROXIMATELY 600 ANIMALS - in the northern & central areas of Mala Mala
SMALL HERD: APPROXIMATELY 22 ANIMALS - southeastern regions of the reserve
NERVOUS HERD: APPROXIMATELY 150 ANIMALS - southern parts of the reserve
HERD: APPROXIMATELY 300 ANIMALS - northwestern areas of Mala Mala
BACHELOR MALES FOUND THROUGHOUT MALA MALA

December 2002

The Large Herd of Buffaloes was not seen much during the first half of the December Game Report period and probably spent most of their time north of Mala Mala. But the rains this season have not been very good - neither in quantity nor in distribution - and the northwestern areas of the reserve and beyond are dry. Not only is there very little grass in these places, but also water is probably not too plentiful. And so the buffaloes of the large herd made their way back onto Mala Mala midway through December and moved towards the central areas and eastwards where some reasonable rains have been experienced.
Soon after the buffaloes arrived, the herd seemed to split into two units, the one at least twice as large as the other. It is not certain whether the two units re-united later on. At about the same time as this split of the large herd of buffaloes occurred, the first calf of this season was born. Other calves soon followed.
The large herd of buffaloes has also been joined by several animals with blue or red ear-tags, these no doubt from disease-control programmes within the Kruger National Park. These buffaloes have almost certainly been released by the Kruger National Park after tests on them have been completed and they have then joined up with the large herd. However, since these released buffaloes are not too accustomed to landrovers driving around them and are also probably not well-established within the herd structure, they have typically been hanging around the peripheries of the main body of animals. It was one of these buffaloes which was later killed by an adult male lion which had been following the herd for at least a day. When the buffaloes saw the lion and panicked, one of the marked buffaloes was towards the end of the herd and was the last to try and scramble up a steep slope. The single male lion took full advantage of this and easily caught the buffalo. No buffaloes came back to try and defend it.
Lions later followed the large herd of buffalo for some days, even entering the Kruger National Park. But the only buffalo which the lions were seen to eat was a few-days-old calf which was apparently abandoned by the herd as it moved steadily from the lions.
At this stage the buffaloes remain in good condition and the lions are understandably wary of them, in spite of the attraction of relatively easy-to-catch babies now in the herd. One wonders whether the lions will target the buffaloes with more enthusiasm once greater numbers of calves are born. This was certainly the case last season.

The Small Herd of Buffaloes was present on the reserve for probably nearly the entire month, enjoying an apparently almost harrassment-free time. However, towards the end of the December, a pride of lions decided to approach them. It is not certain whether the lions managed to catch any of them or not, but the mere attention of the lions was enough to make the small herd of buffaloes flee southwards, probably into the Kruger National Park.

There was only one sighting this month of members of the mediun-sized herd of buffaloes which is usually seen on the western parts of the reserve, to the west of the Sand River. This particular group of buffaloes is mostly seen in the dry season.

November 2002

Of the various herds of buffaloes seen on Mala Mala this month, the Small Herd in the south of the reserve probably provided the most consistent viewing, being present for most of the time, generally close to the immediate environs of the Sand River. They seemed to experience a 'lion-free' month and did not really engage in any of the marathon walks which characterised the other larger herds.

The Large Herd of buffaloes had quite a stressful November, this a result of both predators as well as a change of food quality. But it was probably the onset of the rains and the fresh grass growth which caused the buffaloes the biggest headache; they succumbed to the temptation of the sweet green grass and in walking great distances to get enough of it, many became weak and vulnerable to predators. It was particularly the cows and calves which suffered as they tried to keep up with the stronger forerunners of the herd, getting weaker and weaker as they did so. Surprisingly, although the large herd of buffaloes did split up to at least some degree, this was not as noticeable as has been the case during previous years.
Towards the beginning of the game-report period, when the large herd of buffaloes moved south onto Mala Mala, they immediately drew the attention of two adult male lions. The buffaloes saw no reason to try and dispersuade the lions with a show of force and simply turned and ran, moving perhaps 10 kilometres or more overnight in a bid to outpace the lions. The lions followed and the buffaloes kept moving, eventually causing the lions to lose interest. But although the lions probably left with empty stomachs, one wanders just what the cost of the stress of the kilometres of flight had on the herd, particularly the weaker buffaloes.
On one day, halfway through the month, when the large herd of buffaloes was found walking steadily towards the Sand River, away from where two young male lions were found eating an adult cow (which they must have caught from the herd) one of the other cows in the group aborted a quite well developed foetus. This could well have been a symptom of the stress which these buffaloes have been experiencing. But on this particular day the troubles for the large herd were not yet over - when they reached the river to drink, two adult male lions happened to be in the area and almost immediately rushed in as the buffaloes moved towards the water.

Although the lions failed to catch a buffalo on this initial attempt, they followed the herd as it left the river and soon caught and killed one of the less-than-one-year-old youngsters bringing up the rear. When the lions caught this young buffalo, some of the herd bravely tried to rescue it, at one time even making contact with the male lion which was busy trying to strangle it. But the lion's tenacity and fearlessness was simply too much for the buffaloes and they turned and ran, leaving the youngster to its fate.
Following this incident the herd of buffaloes moved steadily north off Mala Mala and then returned three days later, only to encounter the same two male lions again. This time the buffaloes did not even hesitate; when they saw the lions they swung around and moved far and fast, off the reserve again and away from the lions. They returned 9 days later, but again almost immediately drew the attentions of a male lion.

The herd of just over 300 buffaloes, which spent some of the later parts of the recent dry season on the western areas of Mala Mala, was seen only a few times this month. It is almost certain that now that some rains have fallen, the areas of burned grassland on smaller game reserves to the west of Mala Mala would have produced a flush of green growth and that this would have proved simply irresistible to this group. So, unless follow-up rains are scarce, it is likely that this particular herd of buffaloes will more or less stay away from Mala Mala until next dry season. On the one day when they arrived on Mala Mala this month, the herd moved steadily towards the Sand River where they rather hesitantly approached the same area where in late July this year two male lions caught an old female from the herd just as they were drinking. Perhaps the buffaloes remembered this incident and this was the reason for their wariness. Anyway, nothing seemed to be waiting for them and the buffaloes drank and fed. However, later that morning, a single four-year-old male lion was seen heading towards the river and the area of the buffaloes. That afternoon the buffaloes were found moving steadily back along their tracks away from the river. Upon investigating the spot in the river from where they had emerged, the young male lion was found with the carcass of an adult female buffalo. This was less than 100 meters from the spot where in July the two adult male lions had also killed the buffalo. For a single young male lion to catch an adult buffalo from within a large herd is quite something and it is quite likely that the lion took full advantage of not only the thick reeds and steep river banks in the area, but also the already rather panicky buffaloes. Not surprisingly, it was some weeks before any members of this particular herd of buffaloes were seen again and this some distance away from where the kill had occurred.

There were two brief sightings this month of members of probably the same nervous herd of approximately 300 buffaloes which spent so much time on the northeastern parts of Mala Mala earlier in the year.

October 2002

Buffalo viewing was generally good this month, with the large herd spending almost half of the time on the reserve. What perhaps characterised the buffaloes' pattern of movement this month was its speed; the animals seemed to move rapidly from place to place and little of this movement appeared as a consequence of action from lions. Grass quality and quantity are not that good at the moment and the only reliable supply of water on Mala Mala for this large herd is the Sand River, which is still flowing strongly throughout its length. There were one or two occasions when lions did show interest in the buffalo, but these attempts were quite hopeless. Interestingly, the most dramatic of the lion/ buffalo interactions occurred when a lioness and her two approximately 18-month-old cubs chased after the large herd of buffaloes when they were in the riverbed. Until the buffaloes regrouped and managed to get their wits about them, the lions were in charge. On one occasion, for only a brief moment, the lioness of the trio actually jumped onto the back of a large male buffalo before he shook her off. The cubs were as keen and on two occasions charged in and started the buffaloes' retreat. But there was never really any hope for the lions to catch a buffalo and the exercise may well have been a deliberate teaching exercise for the young lions.

The small herd of buffaloes provided reliable viewing and were probably present on the reserve more often than sightings suggested; they were merely hidden by the dense foliage of the river and its surrounds.

Another herd of buffaloes, which stayed on the southern parts of Mala Mala for nearly a week, was the herd of 120 which is normally nervous in the presence of vehicles. This group of buffaloes has been on and off these parts of Mala Mala for several months now and is slowly becoming relaxed in the presence of vehicles.

The herd of 300 or so animals from the west of Mala Mala, which spent much of September on Mala Mala, was seen only half-a-dozen occassions and all towards the beginning of this game-report period.

In general, the body condition of the buffaloes belonging to the various herds remains good, but, should the food status continue to decline, this cannot be expected to hold.

September 2002

The Large Herd of Buffaloes made fleeting appearances on Mala Mala this month, staying for only a day or two before heading away, almost certainly to areas where artificial water keeps them. At present the only natural waterholes away from the Sand River are tiny springs which satisfy lone animals or those with small water-requirements. But if rain stays away for much longer, then it will not only be water which controls the movement of the buffalo, but grazing too.

Towards the southeast of the reserve, the Small Herd of buffaloes was seen quite regularly and were probably present more often than sightings have indicated. As with many other buffaloes on the reserve, lions have not bothered them much of late, almost certainly because their body condition is still, on average, good and there are no highly vulnerable calves to snatch.

The herd of 300 or so buffaloes, which have for the last month or so been spending more and more time on Mala Mala, were again seen regularly during September. This herd probably spends much of its time on land to the west of the reserve, but with areas there now burned, food and water requirements have no doubt caused them to explore new lands. One wonders whether this will have a lasting impact on their usually regular movements?

During September these buffalo moved further east from the Sand River than has so far been recorded, exploring grounds which have up until now been considered the exclusive preserve of the Large Herd of buffaloes. Also, in the central-south of Mala Mala, this herd of 300 buffaloes spent much time, drinking from the river and feeding on the adjacent land. But it was down here that they experienced some harassment from lions. It is not known whether the lions caught anything, but at one time, after being trailed for nearly two days, the buffaloes suddenly fled, moving many kilometres in only a few hours until they were out of the area and satisfied that the lions were no longer following.

August 2002

The Large Herd of Buffaloes spent the first week or so of this game-report period on the reserve and then moved north and west off Mala Mala, no doubt to make use of some or other water-point still sustaining away from the Sand River. But, in their absence, the herd of nearly 300 buffaloes which usually resides to the west of the reserve, made much use of the Sand River, spending a great deal of their time in the southwestern sectors, west of the Sand River.

The Small Herd of just over 20 buffaloes stayed in the south and eastern parts of Mala Mala and was ultimately probably present on the reserve more frequently than sightings suggested.

The herd of at least 100 quite nervous buffaloes which have been seen now and again over the past couple of months in and to the south of the Sand River in the southern regions of Mala Mala were located only once during August before heading south back into the Kruger National Park and the Sabi River where they probably spend most of their time.

Lions did not seem to really harass the various herds of buffaloes this month. One or two animals were killed, but the lions certainly seemed to treat them with care. But conditions are now dry and the only water sources away from the Sand River which have the volume to sustain herds of buffaloes are artificially maintained and, even if these do not run out, the food in their immediate surrounds will and the Sand River will then be turned to on an ever-increasing frequency.

Another time of real threat to the buffaloes is when the new spring growth starts, this after the first rains (goodness knows when that will be), and all they want to eat is the fresh green shoots. Such growth is of high quality, but low in quantity and this presents a real problem, particularly to the weaker buffaloes, which, in order to keep up with the stronger forerunners, get weaker and weaker. The herds then fragment and the lions take advantage of both weak buffaloes and poorly defended herds.

But this stage of the year has still to arrive for the buffaloes. The rains have not yet even threatened and the animals still need to get through the remainder of the current dry season.

July 2002

The large herd of buffaloes spent much of the month on Mala Mala, leaving the property via the Mlowathi River for only short periods before coming streaming back. Although grass is now very dry, the quality is still probably good and the buffaloes seem to be in fine condition, spending their days moving down to drink (in the Sand River usually) and then returning for the cooler nights to the higher lying areas where temperatures would be warmer than the valleys. Much of the grazing seems to be done after dark and then, when stomachs are filled, the herd lies down to ruminate, usually spending at least six or 8 hours in such a manner. On some days, probably the cooler ones, the buffalo of the large herd were not seen to go down to drink in the river, but then they would head down first thing the following morning. July saw the lions generally avoiding the large herd of buffaloes.

The Small Herd of 25 or so buffaloes often seen towards the southern parts of Mala Mala was seen only once and this at the beginning of July. Tracks and encounters with a couple of lone female buffaloes thereafter suggested that male lions may then have followed and harassed them, causing them to head south, probably into the Kruger National Park.

Towards the end of July, the herd (or at least some of them) of perhaps 100 - 150 relatively nervous buffaloes seen in the southern areas during June made a return to these same areas. It is thought that this particular group of buffaloes spends much of its time around the Sabi River inside the Kruger National Park and so is not that accustomed to gamedrive vehicles. Also towards the end of July, one of the reserves to the west of Mala Mala applied a controlled burn to some of their land. Within hours of this, a herd of 250-300 buffaloes came across to the Mala Mala Airstrip, which is still being rebuild. Upon encountering the construction crew and the newly-laid tarmac of the runway, the buffaloes halted before some of the larger bulls gingerly tested this new surface. Once they were happy with what they found, the herd moved further east towards the Sand River. The next morning the buffaloes returned to drink at this spot, but were ambushed by two of the West Street Male lions which ran in and killed an old cow. The buffaloes, perhaps due to them being in a strange area, did not even attempt to drive the lions off and moved off from the area by several hundred meters.

June 2002

Apart from one incident near the beginning of the month when the three West Street Male lions caught a young buffalo bull from the large herd of buffaloes, these large bovids appeared to have a good month. This particular incident was compounded by the fact that after running from the scene of the kill and spending the following day without water, the buffalo came down to drink at the exact same spot where the kill had occurred. The lions were still in the area and, reinforced by others, had another go at the buffaloes. This time, however, the lions failed to catch one, but the interaction spooked them and they fled north, staying away for 10 days before returning. But by and large lions have left the buffalo alone and the few that have followed the herd have met with no success.

Calving seems to have come to an end and the buffalo of the large herd, when grazing in a certain area, seem to drink at midday, then return to high ground for the night and sometimes for the whole of the following day before returning for another drink early the next morning - going for close to 48 hours without water. This would be on cool days, whilst on other days, drinking occurs daily. Buffaloes are hardly using the reeds in the river for grazing, preferring the dry yet still high quality grass further afield. The Small Herd of Buffaloes in the south of the reserve was seen only twice and both times towards the very lower parts of the Sand River. But in their absence and perhaps causing the small herd of stay away, was another buffalo herd, this one numbering perhaps as many as 150 animals. Spoor suggested that they arrived from the south, perhaps the Sabi River inside the Kruger National Park, and stayed for 9 days before vanishing again. These buffalo were clearly not accustomed to landrovers and moved away whenever they were approached.

May 2002

The buffalo started the month off on the same footing as last - running from the lions that seemed relentless in their attacks. But, after a week or so of this, things calmed down and the buffaloes of the large herd and others continued through May with fewer encounters with lions. Perhaps the calving has slowed down and the general availability of vulnerable members of the herds have declined, making the lions more wary since the other buffaloes could then protect the targeted individuals more effectively. The buffalo have also started to wander according to early dry-season conditions, this particularly influenced by a period of intense cold early in May which served to kill any remaining green grass. The buffalo seem to have realised that they have no choice but to eat dry grass and, with long-term plans in mind, have hardly used the Sand River with its abundance of water and reeds. Movements of the buffalo during May suggest that the decision of the herd is to use the ephemeral supplies of food and water now. And with this grazing pattern, the buffalo left Mala Mala for the latter parts of May in favour of the peripheral areas of their range where these transient supplies can be expected.

There was but one encounter this month with the herd of 300 or so fairly nervous buffalo which tend to wander onto NE Mala Mala from the Kruger National Park.

The Small Herd of approximately 25 buffaloes was probably present on Mala Mala more frequently than sightings suggested. With no other herds of buffaloes to compete with them in their area of residence, have been using the Sand River and its resources at a time when the bigger herds seem to be deliberately avoiding it, saving it for the lean times of the late dry season.

April 2002

Buffalo had another tough month, not only from the point of view of lion attacks, but they also had to contend with the decline of grass quality with the onset of winter. The lions hammered the buffalo during April, not only taking young buffalo, but many adults too, particularly those which weaken at this time of year. Although buffalo have a highly efficient digestive system and can certainly digest dry grass, they prefer the more succulent and probably more nutritious green leaves. But as winter approaches and less and less green grass is available, the buffalo seem to hurry around, trying to gobble up the declining leaves before they vanish. The front-runners of the herd will be the strongest animals and get the most, whilst the weaker buffalo (old ones, females and calves etc.) bringing up the rear will eat less, be forced to walk as fast and so get weaker and more vulnerable. Also, with the herd often on the move, late calvers - these often old cows - are frequently left behind and have to catch up later. Very often a herd of buffalo will split up under these conditions. This general pattern continues usually until all the grass is dry and then the buffalo simply have no choice and decide to settle down. But until that stage is reached, for the lions there are good numbers of relatively easy to catch animals. And these factors probably contributed to buffalo deaths this month.

The large herd of buffalo split into two units, one with twice the number of animals as the other and they occupied different areas of their range. Calves are still being born, but not as frequently as was the case earlier in the year. Of the adult animals which lions were seen killing and/or eating, most were cows and in several situations, calves were taken at the same time. On one occasion, lions were found with the carcasses of two adult buffalo cows as well as that of a young calf. This probably happened when the herd moved off and a cow about to give birth or with a very newly born animal was forced to hang back and had a 'helper' remain as well. Lions then took full advantage of the situation. So this month saw the large herd of buffalo wander great distances, this a consequence not only of being harassed by lions, but also a result of the change of food quality associated with this time of year. It can also be expected that the buffalo of the large herd will, for the next month or so, spend relatively more time away from the Sand River, using the already depleting food and water resources far from this long-term supply. Only later in the season, when there remains little else, will they be forced to make use of the Sand River and its resources.

The Small Herd of buffalo in the south of the reserve seemed to have a hassle-free time during April. Given the fact that they number only a couple of dozen animals and have no other groups competing for the vast supplies of water and food close to the Sand River in the area in which they typically reside, this herd of buffalo stayed pretty much within the immediate confines of the river during April.

The herd of 300 or so fairly nervous buffalo which can be expected to roam the north-eastern parts of Mala Mala and areas of the Kruger National Park adjacent to this was seen only twice during April.

There was a brief sighting of a herd of 80 or 100 buffalo on the western bank of the Sand River close to the south-central parts of Mala Mala. Four male lions were following them and the buffalo did not stay long.

March 2002

The buffalo herds started the month off in much the same way that they ended February - being hounded and plundered by lions. In the beginning of the month two young but adult male lions attacked the large herd of buffalo, isolated a group with two less-than-one-day-old calves, and killed both youngsters, this in spite of some valiant defence from the buffalo. A few days later, a buffalo calf was seen being born and then, only a few hours later, was taken by a single male lion which had been watching the herd from a nearby thicket. An adult female buffalo and at least one other youngster were also killed in subsequent days. Finding buffalo herds has become synonymous with finding lions - they would mostly be trailing somewhere behind, watching and waiting for the vulnerable. The buffalo themselves appeared almost resigned to the fact that the killings would happen and although they certainly did defend, this was nowhere near as spirited as is so often the case when they are attacked.

But then, halfway through the month, things seemed to change. The trailing lions appeared to follow more regularly than attack and were far more cautious in their approaches. Perhaps the numbers of easy-to-kill animals are coming to an end. The weakened adults have been taken and the calves are not dropping as fast, so reducing the killing opportunities and allowing the buffaloes to concentrate their defences. So things might be looking up for the buffalo. Their two months of torment may be at an end. But what will happen during the dry season? This winter promises to be the driest in several years and with the huge numbers of buffalo around, things could prove interesting. It can be expected that as autumn progresses, the buffalo herds will make use of the peripheral areas, leaving the more dependable supplies of food and water at the Sand River until the bitter end.

Halfway through March, the large herd of buffalo split up, probably into two units, one of 400 or so, the other probably with the remainder. The group of 400 was seen, but not the others. This happened last year too, with the larger group containing more calves than the smaller unit. From mid-March onwards there was also a noticeable increase in sightings of lone old male buffaloes or small groups of buffaloes, including one or two females amongst them. When small groups of buffalo cows were encountered or young males alone, it was assumed that they had either been scattered by lions and were looking for the main body of the herd or were still trying to decide which of the groups they would rather stay with.

The Small Herd of Buffalo, still approximately 20 animals, was seen only at the beginning of this report-period and started the month on a bad note. For the first time in many weeks, this group of buffalo wandered north, going close to the central parts of the Sand River on Mala Mala. However, no sooner had they arrived, than two male lions set off after them. The buffalo immediately turned around and fled south to areas more familiar to them. These male lions followed for some ways, but it is not known if they managed to catch a buffalo.

Towards the end of the month, the herd of 300 or so quite nervous buffalo which spent so much time on Mala Mala towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year, returned for a few days. But their stay was not happy. No sooner where they back than lions attacked them, splitting them into two units. But the buffalo seemed to weather these attacks and it is doubtful that the lions managed to catch one.

February 2002

The buffalo of the large herd had a horrible February. Calves have been dropping left, right and centre and there has hardly been a day when lions have not been following them, trying to catch one of the more vulnerable animals. And running from the lions does not seem to help. Not only do the lions follow, but other lions always seem to be wherever the destination may be. At least 8 buffalo are known to have been eaten by lions, these mostly calves and very young calves at that. But the number is probably even higher given the speed with which a family of lions will eat a baby buffalo once they have caught it and started to feed. One thing seen with the large herd of buffalo this month was the apparent number of calves simply abandoned by the herd and at least two buffalo calves seen being eaten were such animals. Just why this should be is not clear, but it could well have something to do with the stress of constantly being harassed by lions. The policy of a frightened mother buffalo would be to save herself rather than try to defend a calf.
When these interactions between buffalo and lions have been observed, one cannot but admire the courage of both the hunters and the hunted, the one defending strongly, the other desperate to kill a most powerful adversary. The tactic employed by the lions seems to have been to work away at the herds, observing the vulnerable ones and then, when the time is right, try to catch the targeted animal. But even the weak ones are not easy prey. One buffalo cow was seen to survive for some weeks with a broken leg before the lions finally caught her. Every time lions would try to catch this sorely wounded animal, she found herself surrounded by other buffalo and the cats would back off, unwilling to risk the horns and ferocity of the healthy. By months end the large herd of buffalo seemed to almost accept the fact that they simply could not run and hide when the lions descended upon them.

The herd of 250 or 300 relatively nervous buffalo which has been seen on and off the reserve this year and the last few months of 2001 was seen only a few times and this at the very beginning of the game report period. They then seemed to move off into the Kruger National Park, the region where they probably spend most of their time. In the south of the reserve the small herd of buffalo were seen several times and this throughout the game-report period. They seemed to spend much of their time inside the dense reedbeds of this part of the Sand River. As far as could be ascertained, the small herd of buffalo have only one calf to add to their ranks so far this year. With such little incentive to chase after the buffalo in an attempt to catch a calf, lions seem to have pretty much left them alone.

January 2002

The buffalo herds of Mala Mala seemed to have a good start to the year and were for the most part left alone by the lions or, when the lions did harass them, the buffalo seemed to get away unscathed. Calving season appears to be going well, certainly within the large herd of buffalo. This group of perhaps 600 animals spent much of the month along the mid and upper reaches of the Matshapiri River where a management fire was applied last dry season.
Interestingly, very few of the buffalo are showing signs of being infected with filarial parasites, these spread by flies and which manifest themselves finally as massive open wounds on the buffaloes. These parasites do not usually cause death amongst infected buffalo, but the wounds certainly result in great discomfort. The lack of infection so far this year could be thanks to the dry summer conditions experienced through most of late December and January.
The herd of 250 or so buffalo which have spent so much time over the last five or so months on the north-eastern parts of the reserve were also seen a few times. As has been the trend since when they first appeared and were highly suspicious of game-drive vehicles, these buffalo are continuing to relax down and now almost (but not quite) ignore approaching landrovers.
The Small Herd of buffalo was seen only twice this month and both times towards the lower reaches of the Sand River. It is highly likely that they spent more time on the reserve than these sightings suggest. Numbers within the herd indicate that lions have really not bothered them or, if they have, have not had much success.
For the buffalo in general, conditions appear nearly perfect with good supplies of water, mud and grass, this in spite of the latter parts of December and most of January being hot and dry.

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