A Resting Place - Cape Buffalo

The Cape buffalo is a powerful and dangerous African mammal. Often mistakenly called the water buffalo. The water buffalo is a slovenly, domestic animal which plows the rice paddies of Asia. The African Cape buffalo is more like a tough, Spanish fighting bull. However, in this case I have shown a mature bull in repose. He has been resting and probably chewing his cud.

Around him are the ever present cattle egrets which feed on the insects stirred by his movements. I have depicted a moment in which something has startled the threesome - perhaps an approaching elephant or a lion. One egret has taken off, but the big bull does not seem unduly disturbed.