Species Fact Profile: Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis)

Lowland Anoa

Bubalus depressicornis (H. Smith, 1827)

Range: Northern Sulawesi (Indonesia)
Habitat: Undisturbed lowland rainforest and wetland, below 1000 meters
Diet: Aquatic plants, ferns, grasses, saplings, fallen fruit
Social Grouping: Solitary, sometimes gather in small herds ( <5)
Reproduction:  Breed year round in captivity, but unknown if reproduction is seasonal in the wild.  Single calf (twins are possible) born after a gestation period of 275-315 days.  Calf weaned at 6-9 months.  Sexually mature at 2 years old
Lifespan: 20-30 Years (Zoo), Unknown in Wild
Conservation Status: IUCN Endangered, CITES Appendix I, USFWS Endangered

·  Head and body length 180 centimeters.  Tail length 40 centimeters.  Stand 95-110 centimeters at the shoulders.  Weigh 200-300 kilograms. 
·     Horns are 35-50 centimeters long, triangular in section and flat and wrinkled, growing straight backwards from the forehead.  They tend to lie relatively flush against the back of the head, possibly to keep them from becoming entangled in overhanging vines.
·    Limbs are short, body is stocky.  Males tend to have thicker necks than females and their horns tend to be slightly longer
·   Calves are reddish-brown when born with dark brown legs and a black dorsal line; fur turns darker with age, turning slate-gray at 3-4 years old in both sexes (some adult females may be more brown than black).  White crescent-shaped throat bib.  Some white markings may be present above the hooves, on the inner lower forelegs, or in the ears.
·  Frequent saltlicks.  If they cannot find saltlicks, they may drink seawater
·   Largest land animal on Sulawesi, adults have no significant predators apart from humans.  Only significant predators of calves are the pythons and possibly civets
·  Not very agile in the forest.  Primary method of locomotion is a slow trot, occasionally with a clumsy leap.  Good swimmers, have been observed swimming long distances to offshore islands
·   Males are territorial, marking their territory by scratching at trees with their horns and pawing up the soil after urinating or defecating.  Particularly unsociable for a cattle species, in the wild as in zoos.  Captives have been known to kill one another if kept in groups or to act aggressively towards humans.  
·   Local superstition maintains that anoa will come out of the forest at night to impale domestic cattle with their horns, earning them the nickname “demon of the forest.”  No evidence of this occurring, though would be in keeping with the territorial nature
·    Elusive and poorly studied in the wild.  Seem to be more active during the night, spending the day hiding in dense vegetation, though this could be a response to human disturbance.  Wallow in mud to keep cool.
·   Has a closely-related sister-species, the mountain anoa, Bubalus quarlesi (“anoa” is the Celebes world for “buffalo”).  It was debated for a while whether they might be one species – both are found only on Sulawesi and both in small populations.  DNA analysis has shown that they are two separate species, though some interbreeding does occur.  They appear to be segregated by habitat preference. 

·     ·    Population has declined due to hunting (mostly for meat, which local superstition holds will give the powers of the anoa to the consumer, but also for skulls and horns, which are used in traditional medicine), as well as habitat loss for logging and agricultural development.  The more habitat loss occurs, the more exposed the remaining anoa are to hunters.  Also threatened by disease transmission from domestic cattle.  Hunted with snares (often set primarily for wild pigs), spears, or with dogs.  Skulls and horns are also sold to tourists to the island as souvenirs