Lowland Anoa

ANIMAL:
Lowland Anoa                Bubalus depressicornis

Type of Animal:
Cattle

Habitat:
Lowland forest, swamps, riverine forest

Location(s):
Sulawesi

Appearance:
Stocky body, bull darker than cow, sharp triangular-like horns on both sexes but longer on bull, young are brown, bull has thicker neck, 2nd smallest wild cattle species after Mountain Anoa.

Food/Diet:
Grasses, ferns, young banana trees, moss, bark, fruit, herbs, leaves, marsh plants, aquatic plants, saplings, palms, ginger

Status in Wild:
Endangered

Conservation:
Breeding from zoos, wildlife parks, & breeding centers

Lifestyle:
Solitary or male-female pairs, though cows sometimes found in pairs or trios 

Additional Info:

Called:
Male-Bull
Female-Cow
Young-Calf
Group-Herd 

Weight:
Male-660 lbs
Female-550 lbs

Gestation:
9-10 months

Life Span:
20 years in wild, up to 30 years in captivity

Height:
Male- 0.88-1.2 ft
Female- 0.59-0.85 ft

Body Length:
Male-6 ft
Female-5.5 ft

Tail Length:
1.3 ft

Adults have no predators. Calves preyed on by large pythons & civets.

Endangered due to logging, habitat loss, hunting for horns/meat/sport, & use of skull/horns in traditional medicine.

Fights between bulls sometimes result in death.

Bulls mark territory by horning trees & scratching soil after urinating.

Sexually mature at 2 years old.

They’ve been known to frequent salt licks.

Often uses muddy areas to cool off in heat of day as well as to protect themselves from insects.

Most closely related to water buffalo though some scientists think they’re even more closely related to highly endangered saola/Vu Quang Ox from Annamite Range of Vietnam & Laos.

Usually crepuscular or nocturnal.

Due to diet, play important role as seed dispersers.

They’re extremely secretive in the wild, meaning much more is to be learned.

Short horns point backwards so they don’t get tangled in undergrowth.

Fun Fact(s):
Sometimes called midget buffalo & sapiutan.

They’ve been recorded drink seawater in areas where mineral spring water & salt licks are scarce.
 
They’ve been known to be very good swimmers.

Though small, they’re known for their fierce temper.

The word “anoa” means buffalo in Sulawesi.

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