Domestic water buffalo

(Bubalus bubalis)

Heavily domesticated, this species is thought to originate between central India and southern Nepal but can now be found across Europe and is often used in the production of mozzarella. A water buffalo can be up to 3m long and up to 1.9 m tall. Although domestic water buffalo are thriving and are distributed well beyond their native range ,the true wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) are in jeopardy – they are currently listed as endangered on the IUCN red list and it is thought that there are fewer than 1,000 remaining.

Gestation period:

300 – 340 days

Threats to species:

 There are no threats to the domestic water buffalo.  However, hybridisation of domestic water buffalo with the wild water buffalo is causing the latter form to gradually disappear.

Conservation Today for Wildlife Tomorrow