Bubalus depressicornis

Taxonomy (Name)

Class		MAMMALIAIUCN
Order		CETARTIODACTYLAIUCN
Family		BOVIDAEIUCN
Scientific Name		Bubalus depressicornisIUCN
Author		(C.H. Smith, 1827)IUCN
Synonyms
Common Name		Anoa, Lowland AnoaIUCN
Local name	Brunei Darussalam
	Cambodia
	China
	Indonesia	Anoa dataran rendah, Kerbau pendek
	Japan
	Lao PDR
	Malaysia
	Myanmar
	Mongolia
	Philippines
	Singapore
	Republic of Korea
	Thailand
	Vietnam

Picture

 

Distribution, Range

This species is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found only on Sulawesi and Buton Island off the southeast coast, with no records of either species of Anoas from other small neighbouring islands adjacent to Sulawesi (Burton et al. 2005), where it is found up to 1,000 m (G. Semiadi pers. comm. 2006). It remains uncertain whether the two putative species, Bubalus depressicornis and Bubalus quarlesi, are sympatric or parapatric in their distribution (Burton et al. 2005). Across the island, local distribution of anoa species remains unclear, as they may occur in forest patches at different altitudes or sympatrically (Burton et al. 2005). Records of skulls and morphological descriptions of this species suggest it is present in the northern peninsular, as far east as the Bogani Nani-Wartabone National Park. It is also found across the central region and ranging to the tip of the eastern and southeastern peninsulars, but no longer present in the south peninsular. The lowland anoa is also present in the central and north of Buton Island (Burton et al. 2005).

Historically, anoa of one species or other were present throughout the majority of the island's forests (Weber 1890, Sarasin and Sarasin 1901, Mohr 1921, Harper 1945, Groves 1969, Burton et al. 2005).

IUCN

Map

Country

Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Indonesia	IUCN
Japan
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Mongolia
Philippines
Singapore
Republic of Korea
Thailand
Vietnam

Status

International Status

IUCN Red List Category

ENIUCN

Justification

This species is considered Endangered because its population is estimated to be less than 2,500 mature individuals, its rate of decline is believed to be greater than 20% over two generations (14 to 18 years), and no subpopulation is believed to number more than 250 mature individuals.

IUCN

CITES

Appendix IIUCN

CMS

 

National Status

Country	Category	Reference
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

Ecology Discription

Appearance

 

Habitat

There is very little is known about the ecology and life history of the Anoas (Burton et al. 2005). Overall population densities were estimated to be 0.9 and 1.1 anoas/km2 in Tanjung Peropa and Tanjung Amolengo Wildlife Reserves, southeast Sulawesi, respectively (Mustari 2003). This species is found in both primary and secondary lowland forest, as well as swamp and mangrove forest (A. Priyono and G. Semiadi pers. comm. 2006, Mustari 2003). Riverine and lowland forests were preferred by anoa compared to rocky-cliffs forest in Tanjung Peropa Wildlife Reserve due to the availability of water sources, known food plants and fruit-bearing trees (Mustari 2003). In the past the species was reportedly common along coasts. Lowland Anoa are also found at high elevations in mountainous areas. Like other wild buffalo, Anoas wallow and bathe in pools of water and/or mud. It is probable that mineral springs or licks are also required, although Anoa are reported to drink seawater, which might fulfil their mineral needs in areas without licks or springs.

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Population size

There are to few data exist to accurately quantify the species' current abundance, nevertheless, they still appear to be distributed relatively widely within their known historical range on Sulawesi. There have been declines of this species throughout Sulawesi, especially in the southern and northeastern peninsulas, with the decline attributed to hunting for meat and habitat loss (Burton et al. 2005). The range is extremely fragmented, especially in the southern, northeastern and the south of the southeastern peninsulas of the island (Burton et al. 2005, B. Mannullang pers. comm. 2006). These declines probably began at the turn of the nineteenth century, with an increased decline rate from the 1980 to 2005 period (circa three generations), precipitously in some areas. The population size is unknown because there have been no island-wide surveys to estimate this, even for the largest populations. Estimating the population size is further complicated by the uncertain distribution of the two Anoa species. It is thought that there are less than 2,500 mature individuals. Most populations are becoming rapidly fragmented, suggesting that conservation of viable populations may soon require management of subpopulations (Burton et al. 2005). It is thought no subpopulation exceeds 250 mature individuals. The threats to this species, and thus the declines, are more serious for this species than for the Mountain Anoa.

The Lowland Anoa populations in small reserves (e.g., Tanjung Amolengu Wildlife Reserve) and other forest fragments are threatened with local extinction. Even the populations in large protected areas and other large forest blocks are reported to be in decline as a result of heavy hunting pressure. O'Brien and Kinnaird (1996) report a 50 to 95% decline of this species in Tangkoko Nature Reserve in Northern Sulawesi in a 10-year period, with more recent surveys suggesting it is now locally extinct. The rate of population decline across their range is thought to be 20% over two generations (generation length of 7 to 9 years). The species' ecology was studied recently in the Tanjung Peropa and Tanjung Amolengo Wildlife Reserves in southeastern Sulawesi.

IUCN

Behavior

The species is solitary and is a browser, feeding on vegetation (Whitten et al. 1987, Foead 1992). The typical life span in captivity is reported to be 20 to 30 years, with age at sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years old (in captivity), with typically one offspring per year (NRC, 1983; Jahja, 1987), though in wild conditions this may be less.

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Diet

The species is solitary and is a browser, feeding on vegetation (Whitten et al. 1987, Foead 1992).

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Reproduction

 

Threat

Major Threat(s)

Land conversion to agriculture and hunting, mainly for food, are the two major threats to this species (Burton et al. 2005), as well as gold mining and other activities related to the collection of non-timber forest product (A. Priyono pers. comm. 2006). Recent reports indicate that hunting is by far the more serious threat. International trade in live animals or body parts is not thought to present a serious threat.

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Conservation and Measurement

International

The species is listed on CITES Appendix I and fully protected under Indonesian law (Jahja 1987).

IUCN

National

The species is listed on CITES Appendix I and fully protected under Indonesian law (Jahja 1987). Lowland Anoa occur in a number of protected areas (Burton et al. 2005). There are several key protected areas thought to hold significant populations of this species, including Lore Lindu National Park, Bogani Nani-Wartabone National Park, and Tanjung Peropa Nature Reserve on Sulawesi (Burton et al. 2005), as well as Lambu Sango Wildlife Reserve on Buton Island (Burton 2001). There is an ongoing status survey, as well as genetic and morphological research that aims to clarify the confusion that surrounds anoa systematics. A number of Lowland Anoa are in captivity, but the breeding program has been greatly hindered by the difficulties of assigning captive anoa to appropriate taxa. The captive population doubled in size in the 1990s, with around 125 individuals in zoos as of 1998. Of these, a small number are thought to be Mountain Anoa, although the taxonomic status of most individuals remains unconfirmed (Notzold 1999).

IUCN

Conservation law

Country	Status	Reference
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Indonesia	Protected Animals (as Anoa depressicornis)	Goverment Regulation no. 7 / 1999, about Preservation of Plants and Animals
Japan
Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

Protected Area

There are several key protected areas thought to hold significant populations of this species, including Lore Lindu National Park, Bogani Nani-Wartabone National Park, and Tanjung Peropa Nature Reserve on Sulawesi (Burton et al. 2005), as well as Lambu Sango Wildlife Reserve on Buton Island (Burton 2001).

IUCN

Other Coservation Projects

According to Burton et al. (2005) this species requires the following conservation actions: (1) protection from hunting, (2) prevention of habitat loss at key sites, (3) complete genetic studies to better determine the taxonomy of this species, and (4) determination of the status of remaining populations. This species, as it is confined mainly to lowland areas, requires well established protected areas with protection from hunting a major priority. Law enforcement combined with education should be employed to reduce hunting pressure.

IUCN

Citation

Baillie, J. and Groombridge, B. (comps and eds). 1996. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Bartikova, J. and Dobroruka, L. J. 1974. Nektere vnejsi znaky anoa horskeho, Bubalus (Anoa) quarlesi (Ouwens, 1910). Lynx Series Nova 15: 58-62.

Burton, J. A. 2001. The Anoa 2000 Conservation Project. Field Report: Systematics and Conservation of Large Mammals in South East Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tenggara), with Notes on North and Central Sulawesi. Unpublished Report.

Burton, J. A., Hedges, S. and Mustari, A. H. 2005. The taxonomic status, distribution and conservation needs of the Lowland anoa Bubalus depressicornis and mountain anoa B. quarlesi. Mammal Review 35(1): 25-50.

Foead, N. 1992. Studi Habitat dan Pakan Anoa Gunung [Bubalus (Anoa) quarlesi, Ouwen] Di Taman Nasional Lore Lindu, Sulawesi Tengah. Fakultas Kehutanan, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Groombridge, B. (ed.). 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Groves, C. P. 1969. Systematics of the anoa (Mammalia, Bovidae). Beaufortia 17: 1-12.

Harper, F. 1945. Extinct and Vanishing Mammals of the Old World. American Committee for International Wild Life Preservation, New York, USA.

Hedges, S. In press. Asian Wild Cattle and Buffaloes: Status Report and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland.

Hilton-Taylor, C. (ed.). 2000. 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN. 1990. 1990 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1986. 1986 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1988. 1988 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Jahja, M. M. 1987. The possibility of breeding anoa in captivity: an alternative for conservation of the species. Biotrop Special Publication 30: 101?108.

Manansang, J., Hedges, S., Dwiatmo, S., Miller, P. and Seal, U. S. 1996. Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Workshop for the Anoa Species (Bubalus depressicornis and Bubalus quarlesi) Report. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN, USA.

Melisch, R. 1995. Anoa threatened by souvenir trade in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Oryx 29(4): 224-225.

Mohr, E. 1921. Die geographische verbreitung der anoa-arten auf Celebes. Archiv fuer Naturgeschichte 87: 208?214.

Mustari, A. H. 1995. Population and Behaviour of Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis Smith) in Tanjung Amolengu Wildlife Reserve South-East Sulawesi, Indonesia. M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Forestry Science, Georg-August University, Gottingen.

Mustari, A. H. 2003. Ecology and conservation of lowland anoa Bubalus depressicornis in Sulawesi, Indonesia. University of New England.

National Research Council. 1983. Little-Known Asian Animals with a Promising Economic Future. National Academy Press, Washington DC, USA.

Notzold, G. 1999. International Studbook: Anoa, (Bubalus [Anoa] depressicornis Smith, 1827). Leipzig Zoo, Leipzig, Germany.

O'Brien, T. G. and Kinnaird, M. F. 1996. Changing populations of birds and mammals in North Sulawesi Orby. Oryx 30: 150-156.

Sarasin, P. and Sarasin, F. 1901. Entwurf einer Geographyraphisch-Geologischen Beschreibung der Insel Celebes. C.W. Kreidel, Weisbaden.

Schreiber, A. and Notzold, G. (eds). 1995. One EEP, but how many anoas? In: F. Rietkerk, K. Brouwer and S. Smits (eds), EEP Yearbook, pp. 419?424. EAZA/EEP Executive Office, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Schreiber, A., Notzold, G. and Held, M. 1993. Molecular and chromosomal evolution in anoas (Bovidae: Bubalus spec.). Zeitschrift fuer Zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung 31(1): 64-79.

Scott, P. 1965. Section XIII. Preliminary List of Rare Mammals and Birds. The Launching of a New Ark. First Report of the President and Trustees of the World Wildlife Fund. An International Foundation for saving the world's wildlife and wild places 1961-1964, pp. 15-207. Collins, London, UK.

Syam, A. 1978. Study of habitats and population of anoa (Anoa depressicornis) H. Smith in Mount Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve, north Sulawesi. Lembaga Penelitian Hutan (Bogor) Laporan 288: 1-47.

Thornback, J. 1983. Wild cattle, bison and buffaloes, their status and potential value. IUCN, Cambridge, UK.

Weber, M. 1890. Mammalia from the Malay Archipelago. I. Primates, Prosimiae, Galeopithecidae, Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Edentata, Marsupiala. Zoologische Ergebnisse einer Reise in Niederlandisch-Ostindien 1: 93-114.

Whitten, A. J., Mustafa, M. and Henderson, G. S. 1987. The Ecology of Sulawesi. Gadjah Mada University Press, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

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