Beastly Bull Buffalo Pulls Rank and Breaks Up Heavy Weight Skirmish

Buffalo are known for their imposing size and strength, but their true power often comes into play during heated skirmishes in the wild. While these battles can seem intense, they are driven by a complex social structure. 

Most fights are brief and end without long-term injuries, but if two members of the herd are disrupting the rest of the group, a dominant bull (male buffalo) may step in. In some buffalo species, such as the American bison, dominant bulls may intervene in conflicts during the mating season. However, in others, like the African buffalo, herds are usually led by matriarchs, and social order is maintained collectively. Sometimes, like in this video, that means joining the fight and breaking up the battle. 

The following sections will provide a closer look at this interesting herd dynamic and explore why buffalo engage in fighting.

When Do Buffalo Fight?

For the most part, buffalo prefer peace within the herd over fighting each other. However, under specific conditions, skirmishes can occur, causing tension within the group. 

When two buffalo decide to battle, it’s typically males who are clashing over dominance or mating rights. These types of encounters are especially common during mating season when competition is fierce for the attention of females. While less common, some researchers have also documented scuffles occurring over territorial disputes and resource guarding. 

Seasonal Aggression and Mating Rights

As mentioned in the section above, the height of buffalo aggression often coincides with the mating season. During this time, bulls battle for the right to mate, and their clashes are a direct result of their need to assert dominance over one another. 

How Do Buffalo Fight?

Buffalo fights are all about displaying raw power. Both males and females have strong, muscular bodies, but it’s the bulls that generally engage in the most intense battles. During these fights, it’s common to witness the animals charging and headbutting at each other while displaying their massive horns.

Physical Strength and Charging

Even though a buffalo’s horns are incredibly dangerous, it’s actually their physical strength that will often determine the winner of a fight. 

A full-grown bull can weigh up to 2,000 lbs and will use every pound to engage in high-speed charges during a fight. In combat, the bull will charge at its rival, aiming to knock it off balance or injure it with a powerful blow. 

How Does the Social Structure Work in the Herd?

Similar to other animals that live in groups, buffalo herds are organized with a clear hierarchy to help maintain order. The social structure of the herd oftentimes plays a crucial role in determining which members fight and why they participate in battle. 

Within a buffalo herd, there is a clear ranking system. In some species, such as American bison during the mating season, a dominant bull may have priority access to females, but in African buffalo, herds are led by matriarchs, and males are usually separate from the main herd. Other bulls may challenge the leader, but most battles end with the strongest bull retaining control. 

Female buffalo, especially in African buffalo herds, play a key role in group leadership and decision-making, and do not simply follow the lead of dominant males. 

What Triggers a Bull to Step In?

For the most part, bulls will let other males battle it out until one member surrenders. However, there are specific circumstances when the dominant male may step in. For instance, if the social order of the group is at risk or the herd’s safety is threatened, then the bull may step in to restore balance.

When the Young Are at Risk 

Another major reason for bull intervention is the presence of young calves. If a battle breaks out around the herd’s young, most dominant males will quickly step in to ensure their protection.

Intervening in Fights Between Males

Fights between males can escalate quickly and risk fracturing the social order. If two bulls are engaged in a battle that could potentially harm the herd or destabilize the dominance structure, the dominant bull will often step in to break up the conflict. By doing so, it reinforces the hierarchy and ensures that the balance within the herd is maintained.

What Happens After a Buffalo Skirmish?

Once a fight has concluded, there are often physical and social consequences for the participants. These outcomes can impact the dynamics of the group and lead to tension among the herd. 

Physical and Social Consequences

Regardless of who wins the skirmish, both participants will likely experience physical effects, including lacerations and bruising from their opponent’s horns or charging. From a social standpoint, buffalo fights often cause some level of tension in the herd as the animals reestablish their positions within the hierarchy. 

Generally, it’s up to the dominant bull to restore order and prevent further conflict until the group has calmed.