Threatened species of Syncerus caffer

Competition for food sources by non-native species such as goats and cattle have challenged the native African grazers. However, the introduction of foreign diseases from non-native species remains the biggest threat. Currently the national parks of Africa are taking great steps to protect their native wildlife against Bovine Tuberculosis. While this does not have a serious effect on domestic cattle it can decimate the herds of cape buffalo and associated species such as lion and hyaena.

The cape buffalo inhabits the open savannahs and grasslands near permanent sources of water in eastern and southern Africa. The forest buffalo, a smaller subspecies, is found in the forests of central Africa. Cape buffalo, living in large herds and eating tall coarse grasses, play a vital role in the ecology of the grasslands, enabling many of the smaller grazers to get to the shorter, more palatable grasses.

Syncerus caffer is considered as a "Lower Risk" sub-category "conservation dependent" by the IUCN.