Watusi

Quick Facts

Conservation status : Recovering
When Watusi came into being : 6,000 years ago
Maximum horn span of a Watusi : 8 feet
Maximum weight : 1,600 pounds

Our Watusi

Our Ankole-Watusi cattle are among only 1,500 of the species that live outside of their native Africa. They first came to the United States in the 1960s.

In the Wild

Known for their strikingly large horns, Watusi have been prized for their beauty and used as ceremonial animals in Africa. Their coats’ colors and patterns vary from dark red to black, and from solid to speckled.

Their primary homelands are Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, where they live in slow-roaming herds. The adults in the herd sleep in a circle every night to protect the calves who are positioned in the middle.

Did You Know?

The Watusi cattle are named after the Tutsi tribe of Rwanda.

Watusi are rarely killed for their meat.

A dominant male, females and young Watusi, live together as a family group.

Their lifespan is 12 to 20 years, and up to 26 years in captivity.

Conservation

Watusi cattle’s conservation status is “recovering.” In recent decades, factors such as civil war, government-backed crossbreeding and economic issues have negatively impacted the species. Every year, we give grants to national and international organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation and we also support ongoing programs.

Read how we help

Learn What Watusi Eat

Watusi mostly graze on grasses and leaves that they find in the open fields and savannas in their natural habitat. Their need for water is low.

See the Watusi

Your Visit

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