If you look at the creatures below, you will surely be amazed by the enormous size of their horns. In fact, these horns are shaped quite similarly to elephant tusks.
A strange creature with horns as large as elephant tusks on its head!
What are they?
Watusi cattle.
The creatures with the enormous horns are a native African cattle species, known as Watusi cattle, or Ankole long-horned cattle (scientific name: Bos taurus indicus). This breed plays an important role in the lives of African people.
In appearance, they are not particularly different from other cattle species, except for their exceptionally large horns. These large horns help them fight and defend against dangerous enemies, as well as engage in battles with their kind for territory or mates.
The longest-horned cow in the world. (Photo: Guinness World Records)
An adult Watusi cow can weigh between 410 to 730 kg and stand over 2.4 m tall, but it is also quite challenging to maintain balance with its large horns. The record horn length of a Watusi cow in Utah, USA, reached 103.5 cm (according to Guinness World Records).
For the Mundari tribe in South Sudan, they place great importance on this breed of cattle, viewing them as their most valuable assets and are willing to protect them at any cost, even sacrificing their lives or using firearms.
They are also seen as a form of currency, symbolizing the status of a family. The Mundari people rarely slaughter them for meat, primarily obtaining milk from these cows. The large horns of Watusi cattle are essentially a reservoir of calcium for their bodies.
This is a primary source of nutrition for the indigenous people, especially in the driest and harshest regions of Africa.
