Water Buffalos in a paddy field, Athurugiriya, Sri Lanka.

Buffalos used in the ploughing of a paddy field, Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka.

Buffaloes were the traditional way of ploughing paddy fields in South Asia. They churn up the muddy ground and make it ideal for sowing the paddy. Tractors have replaced this in quite a few areas now but we still see this in the villages in present day Sri Lanka.

Minding the buffalos.

 

I saw this herd of domestic buffalos taking a bath in a stream at Udawalawe. There was only one man in charge of the herd. The second picture shows them being guided home.

Wild buffalos at Uda-Walawe national park, Sri Lanka.

Water buffaloes are notorious for for their strength. They have been domesticated and used in South Asia for millenia. They are also very stubborn, very impulsive and stupid. They stick together as herds. They are dangerous animals to meet when they are together as a herd, in the jungles.
I took this picture at the Uda Walawe National park in Sri Lanka.