African buffalo

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/african-buffalo

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Syncerus caffer
2. What is the lifespan?Average 15-20 years in the wild; potentially longer in captivity
3. What do African buffalo eat and how does it help the grasslands?African buffalo munch on coarse grasses, which keeps the grasslands open and healthy. Their grazing helps new grass grow and supports many other animals.
4. Why do African buffalo live in big herds?Living in large herds keeps them safe from predators like lions and hyenas. The herd can move together to find food and water.

Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance.
Gestation Period: The duration of pregnancy from conception to birth.
Ruminant: An even-toed ungulate mammal that digests its food by initially eating the food and then regurgitating a semidigested form called cud for further chewing.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Interactions between humans and wild animals that result in negative consequences for both.