How African buffalo herd social dynamics support individual welfare, and the consequences of disruption from disease and hunting.
African buffalo welfare is deeply embedded in their complex herd social structure. Large herds provide individual protection, social learning, and behavioral synchrony that supports wellbeing for all members. Disease transmission from domestic cattle — particularly bovine tuberculosis in areas like Kruger National Park — causes chronic welfare harm at population scale. Trophy hunting that targets the largest, most dominant males disrupts social hierarchies and can have cascading effects on herd cohesion and breeding dynamics. Managing the interface between buffalo and domestic cattle requires careful attention to disease transmission that creates welfare risks for both wild and domestic animals.