Bubalus bubalis: A Short Story

Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Animal Science
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• The domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) includes river and swamp subspecies.
• Accurate global distribution data for buffalo populations is limited.
• Distinguishing water buffalo from American bison is important due to naming confusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the domestic buffalo species.
• To trace the historical origin and current global distribution of water buffalo.
• To establish a more accurate estimate of the world's buffalo population and their geographical spread.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing multiple data sources on buffalo populations.
• Analyzing existing literature on buffalo subspecies and breeds.
• Synthesizing information on the species' origin and dispersal patterns.

Main Results:

• The domestic buffalo comprises two subspecies: river (Bubalus bubalis bubalis) and swamp (Bubalus bubalis kerebau).
• An estimated 208,098,759 buffalo are distributed across 77 countries on five continents.
• Limited prior information necessitated a data synthesis approach for distribution estimates.

Conclusions:

• This review consolidates knowledge on water buffalo origins and distribution.
• A more precise estimate of global buffalo numbers and locations has been established.
• Understanding buffalo distribution is crucial for conservation and agricultural management.