A buffalo named Horizon has taken the crown as the world’s most expensive such beast after a South Africa-based businessman bought a quarter share in him for more than 44 million South African rand (HK$22.6 million). When calculated, this makes the animal worth a record 176 million rand (HK$91 million).
Buffaloes are one of Africa’s “big five,” with game reserve owners keen to buy them up in order to attract tourists and hunters. In Horizon, many have seen the potential to breed bigger and better herds, with animals with a horn span the size of his (56 inches) also proving tempting to experienced hunters in search of a prize catch.
In fact, to date, Horizon has produced such good quality offspring that he has more than tripled the value of every buffalo he has impregnated. Typically, a pregnant buffalo is worth an average of 825,000 rand (HK$427,000), but one carrying Horizon’s offspring is worth more 2.6 million rand (HK$1.35 million).
Game breeder Piet du Toit, 45, owner of another quarter of the animal said: “Horizon has the most unbelievable horn span in history. He is disease free and is also the biggest in the breeding programme.
“It is rare that a bull carries all of his best genetic qualities to his next generation. In fact, sometimes a good bull has offspring that are not of great quality. In Horizon’s case, though, his offspring have unbelievable genetics. By breeding super cows and an incredible bull, like Horizon, we can make sure that we only have the best quality buffalo genes.”