Hi everyone, first post here.

For those with field experience, what is your impression as to the quality of the buffalo's various senses?

I've read that their eye-sight and hearing are poor, but their sense of smell outstanding. Is this about right?

Capstick seemed to think the buff's eye-sight
and hearing were very good.

Opinions?

quote:

I've read that their eye-sight and hearing are poor, but their sense of smell outstanding. Is this about right?

Thats generaly true.
Movements are another Story.

Seloushunter

mbogo 33 , all three are very good , of course as the animal is feeding with his eyes and ears deep in the grass its easier to get closer , however head up and alert , they see , smell and hear great ...

Welcome! Sense of smell seems like the big one to me. They are very alert ........wary of preditors. Dr.C

I have to agree with Ivan.

Being hunted by humans and Lions for as long as they have has set them up pretty well.
When stalking deer I am always amazed how far of the Cattle spot you, well before the deer.

Here is Walters answer:

"If you are hunting one, he will see you through trees, he will smell you even when you are down wind, and he can hear the fart you did in camp 6 hours easrlier! If you are not hunting, he is as deaf sa a door mouse, as blind as a bat, and smells as good as me when I have a cold"

There you have it, from the mouth of our esteemed, grand, buffalo hunter. He has been able to kill TWO buffalo in all his years of hunting Africa!

How true

It depends how hard they been hunted or poached. If they been hunted hard they are very alert !

The only sense that is not well developed is their sense of humor

Hear! Hear!

Regarding vision, there are plenty of scientific studies regarding this sense on bovines (buffalo included).
All bovines do not really have very good binocular vision, as their eyes are located on the sides of the head. When they look ahead (as when they are staring at you) they can judge distances but they lack detail. For this, picking details, they use their peripheral vision, i.e., when they turn their head 90º to you.
So, if the nyati was looking at you and then turn its head, don't move! He is checking all details and validating whether you're a threat or not by use of his single eye.

quote:

Originally posted by 375 fanatic:
The only sense that is not well developed is their sense of humor

LOL!! That was very funny, sir!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Here is Walters answer:

"If you are hunting one, he will see you through trees, he will smell you even when you are down wind, and he can hear the fart you did in camp 6 hours earlier! "

Saeed,

You got to stop serving Walter Mexican food in camp. I thought I heard him here.

-Steve

Their sences are very good, particularly smell..Their main weakness is memory, they smell you and run like hell for a short distance then forget why they are running and stop and start grazing again, then they repeat this scenario again as you approach carelessly or the wind changes and off they go again for a short distance..Normally on the 3rd time you jump them they will get it right and then go to the next concession or perhaps to Dar es Salaam or even So. Africa!