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Bubalus mindorensis

Taxonomy (Name)

Class MAMMALIAIUCN
Order CETARTIODACTYLAIUCN
Family BOVIDAEIUCN
Scientific Name Bubalus mindorensisIUCN
Author (Heude, 1888)IUCN
Synonyms  
Common Name Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo, Tamaraw, TamarouIUCN
Local name Brunei Darussalam  
Cambodia  
China  
Indonesia  
Japan  
Lao PDR  
Malaysia  
Myanmar  
Mongolia  
Philippines  
Singapore  
Republic of Korea  
Thailand  
Vietnam  

 

Picture

 

 

Distribution, Range

The Tamaraw is endemic to the Philippine island of Mindoro (9,735 km2 in area), where it was formerly widespread across the island (Hedges and Duckworth pers. comm. 2000, Heaney et al. 2002). However, the current range is estimated to cover less than 300 km2, in only two or three areas: Mount Iglit-Baco National Park (within the Iglit mountain range), Mount Aruyan/Sablayan, and Mount Calavite Tamaraw Preserve (Custodio et al. 1996, de Leon et al. 1996). The species was more widespread prehistorically in the Philippines, with Pleistocene epoch records from Luzon (Beyer 1957, in Kuehn 1986).

IUCN

Map

Country

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

 

Status

International Status

IUCN Red List Category

CRIUCN

Justification

The species qualifies for inclusion in Critically Endangered under Criteria C1+2a(ii), given the number of mature individuals is estimated to be less than 250, with a continuing declined estimated at over 25% over the next three generations (generation length estimated at 10 years). In addition, over 90% of individuals are presumed to be in one subpopulation, Mount Iglit-Baco National Park.

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

Formerly Tamaraw were found across the whole of Mindoro from sea level to the high peaks (to over 1,800 m), inhabiting open grassland or forest glades, thick bamboo-jungle, marshy river valleys, and low to mid-elevation forests (Rabor 1977). The species is currently confined to a few remote areas over 200 m, and is most often recorded in secondary forest and mixed forest/grassland (Kuehn 1986, Custodio et al. 1996, Heaney et al. 2002).

IUCN

Population size

In 2006, three separate populations were known. Population estimates undertaken have increased in frequency and have benefited from improved techniques over time. The estimate of numbers of individuals has increased subsequently, but it is almost certain that these increases are a reflection of improved estimates rather than an actual increase in numbers of individuals. Based on recent surveys, the minimum total population is estimated at around 300 individuals with 60 to 70% of these mature individuals (de Leon pers. comm. 2006). However, earlier field data suggested that the percentage of mature individuals was 35 to 59% (Oliver 1994, Custodio et al. 1996, Heaney et al. 2002).The population on Mount Iglit-Baco, as of April 2005 was estimated to number approximately 269 individuals (the actual number might be slightly higher). The population on Mount Calavite (the most northerly site) in 2004 had an estimated 15 individuals based on faecal matter and animal tracks; there has been only one confirmed sighting. The population in Aruyan has an estimated 15 to 20 individuals, with six confirmed recent sightings (de Leon pers. comm. 2006). The population size is therefore around 300 animals, and the number of mature individuals is 105-210, depending on the percentage of mature animals in the overall population. An estimated continuing decline of 25% over the next three generations (approximately 30 years) does not seem unreasonable given that the number of subpopulations reportedly declined from five or six to three between 1990 and 2006.

IUCN

Behavior

Tamaraw are largely solitary, although females occur with offspring (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Males and females occasionally associate temporarily throughout the year (Custodio et al. 1996), which is similar to other bovines species, such as African buffalo, banteng and gaur. The solitary nature of the species is probably an adaptation to forest habitats, where large groups would prove to be a hindrance (Eisenberg 1966, in Kuehn 1986). Tamaraw feed primarily on grasses, as well as young bamboo shoots, in open grasslands, resting within tall grasses or dense forest (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Although formerly diurnal, Tamaraw have become largely nocturnal due to human encroachment and disturbance (Talbot and Talbot 1966).

IUCN

Diet

Tamaraw feed primarily on grasses, as well as young bamboo shoots, in open grasslands, resting within tall grasses or dense forest (Talbot and Talbot 1966).

IUCN

Reproduction

 

 

Threat

Major Threat(s)

The main current threat to the Tamaraw is habitat loss due to farming by resettled and local people, with a high human population growth rates in and around its remaining habitat. In some areas, fires set for agriculture are a threat to the species' habitat. Cattle ranching and farming activities pose a number of threats, including the risk of diseases spreading to the Tamaraw from livestock and burning of pastures leading to a reduced number of palatable grass species. Historically, Tamaraw were hunted for both subsistence and sport, which led to a period of drastic decline in numbers of individuals and populations (Rabor 1977). Hunting was carefully regulated prior to World War II, but since then a growing human population, logging operations, ranching, and widespread availability of firearms on Mindoro have caused a dramatic decline in numbers (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Since the 1980s, sport hunting has reduced due to a decline in the Tamaraw population, closure of nearby ranches, and more intensive patrolling and awareness activities since the establishment of the protected area. International trade in this species or its derivatives has not been reported. Although protected by law, the illegal capture and killing of this species continues.

IUCN

 

Conservation and Measurement

International

The Tamaraw is listed on CITES Appendix I. IUCN

National

Tamaraw receive total protection under Philippine law. The largest of the three known subpopulations occurs in Mount Iglit-Baco National Park. A small number of Tamaraw are held in captivity in the Philippines, but the captive breeding program has had no success. Of the 21 individuals captured around 1982, there were nine individuals remaining in 1997. As of 2006, two individuals remained, one of which is from the original population and one which was bred in captivity, and there are no further plans for captive breeding. The original captive breeding programme consisted of placing the animals in a semi-natural "gene pool" on Mindoro, but these animals were not intensively managed, nor were the husbandry techniques focused on building a large captive population.

IUCN

Conservation law

Country Status Reference
Brunei Darussalam    
Cambodia    
China    
Indonesia    
Japan    
Korea    
Lao PDR    
Malaysia    
Mongolia    
Myanmar    
Philippines Critically Endangered Species Republic Act No. 9147(The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001)
Singapore    
Thailand    
Vietnam    

Protected Area

 

Other Coservation Projects

Required research for this species includes an island wide population survey to determine if there are any additional extant populations. There is also a need for improved habitat conservation through effective management. In addition, the feasibility and need for a new captive breeding programme should be assessed.

IUCN

 

Citation

Alcasid, G. L. 1977. Vanishing Philippine Wildlife. Lahing Pilipino Publishing Inc, Philippines.

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

Corbet, G. B. 1978. The Mammals of the Palaearctic Region: a Taxonomic Review. British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press, London, UK and Ithaca, NY, USA.

Cox, R. and Woodford, M. 1990. A Technical Evaluation of the Philippine Tamaraw Conservation Programme.

Custodio, C.C., Lepiten, M.V. and Heaney, L.R. 1996. Bubalus mindorensis. Mammalian Species 520: 1-5.

de Leon, J., Lawas, N., Escalada, R., Ong, P., Callo, R., Hedges, S., Ballou, J., Armstrong, D. and Seal, U. S. 1996. Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Report.

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

Heaney, L. R., Balete, D. S., Dolar, M. L., Alcala, A. C., Dans, A. T. L., Gonzales, P. C., Ingle, N. R., Lepiten, M. V., Oliver, W. L. R., Ong, P. S., Rickart, E. A., Tabaranza Jr., B. R. and Utzurrum, R. C. B. 1998. A synopsis of the Mammalian Fauna of the Philippine Islands. Fieldiana: Zoology 88: 1-61.

Heaney, L. R., Walker, E. K., Tabaranza Jr., B. R. and Ingle, N. 2002. Mammalian diversity in the Philippines: an assessment of the adequacy of current data. Sylvatrop, The Philippine Forest Research Journal 10: 6-27.

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. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008).

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.

Kuehn, D. W. 1986. Population and social characteristics of the Tamarao (Bubalus mindorensis). Biotropica 18: 263-266.

Lustria, U. M. and Callo, R. A. 1992. Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis Heude) census in Mt. Iglit, Occidental Mindoro and gene pool farm. Sylvatrop, The Philippine Forest Research Journa 1: 81-90.

Meyer, A. B. 1896. Saugethiere von Celebes-und-Philippinen-Archipel. I. R. Friedlander, Sohn, Berlin, Germany.

Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA and London, UK.

Petocz, R. 1989. Status of the Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis). Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group Newsletter 2: 1?4.

Rabor, D. S. 1986. Guide to the Philippine flora and fauna. Natural Resources Management Centre. Ministry of Natural Resources and University of the Philippines.

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.

Talbot, L. M. and Talbot, M. H. 1966. The tamarau (Bubalus mindorensis): observations and recommendations. Mammalia 30: 1-12.

Thomas, O. 1898. On the mammals obtained by Mr John Whitehead during his recent expedition to the Philippines. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 14: 377?412.

IUCN