Halley D. J., Vandewalle M. E. J., Mari M., Taolo C. 2002
Herd-switching and long-distance dispersal in female Africa buffalo Syncerus caffer
East African Wild Life Society, Afr. J. Ecol. 40: 97-99

Africa buffalo cows Syncerus caffer Sparrman (1779) are usually considered to permanently inhabit discrete herds, with negligible or no interherd movements (Sinclair, 1977; Halternorth & Diller, 1980; Kingdon, 1982: Estes, 1991; Skinner & Smithers, 1991; Prins, 1996). However, recent evidence demonstrates low variation in genetic distribution on a regional scale. Variation in mtDNA is congruent with variation in germ-line DNA. These findings are incompatible with male-biased dispersal (Simonsen, Siegesmund & Arctander, 1998). We present evidence from telemetry studies of relatively frequent herd-switching (seven of 45 collared animals, over distances up to 133 km) in adult cow buffalo in northern Botswana.

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