The African buffalo is a species common in protected savannahs across the African continent. While in the past, there are areas that they have been locally become extinct, they are currently in most reserves in South and East africa. This map shows the range of the African buffalo (this species is split into 4/5 subspecies, and one of these has been listed as a separate species – the African forest buffalo, however for now it will be covered here). The total number of this species is thought to be around 620,000 (though looking online, you can find estimates of as low as just 400,000).

The subspecies are:

• Cape buffalo – found in South and East africa, and classed as the nominate species with a population of around 510,000 (the population in Southern Africa and Eastern Africa are sometimes treated separately which is the reason for 4 or 5 subspecies – it is unclear how these populations break down, but they are generally considered to be close enough to be treated as one subspeices, meaning that this is quite secure at the current time, though individual populations may be less healthy)
• Forest buffalo- found in the forested regions of Western and central Africa, it is considered to have a population of roughly 56,000, but this is particularly threatened, especially in parts of its range like Nigeria. This subspecies has been suggested to be a separate species, and is treated as such in places. There will be two different places where it is listed, and as forest buffalo destinations are listed, these two species will be treated separeately
• Central Savannah buffalo – 6% or 34,000 individual, is one of the the least secure sybspecies
• Western Savannah buffalo – 4% or 20,000 individuals is the least secure subspecies