Anoa Bubalus depressicornis
The dwarf buffalo of Sulawesi.
The anoa is the smallest of all wild bovine species, standing 60 to 75 cm at the shoulder.
The anoa in a nutshell
- eats
- leaves, grass, fruits, aquatic plants
- inhabits
- the Indonesian island of Sulawesi
- excels at
- hiding
Dwarf buffalo
The anoa is also called the sapiutan or dwarf buffalo. ‘Anoa’ means ‘buffalo’ in the local language of Sulawesi. Anoa occupy a significant position in the ecosystem of Sulawesi as dispersers of seeds. Specifically, they eat the seeds and excrete them in their droppings. Because they travel over great distances, this enables plants to spread, thus strengthening the ecosystem.
Solitary life
The anoa is a solitary creature, living alone instead of in a herd or with a mate. This shy animal can be seen searching for food at dawn, or taking refuge in the shade when it becomes warmer. The anoa lives only in dense, undisturbed forests near water.
Endangered
Young anoa are at risk of predation by pythons and civets, but adult anoa have no natural enemies. The greatest threats to the anoa are human beings. In the past, before the arrival of firearms, the people of Sulawesi were afraid of the anoa and almost never hunted it, because they knew that the anoa could attack blindly if it felt threatened. Today, however, anoa are hunted for their meat, horns and skin. Deforestation also threatens the anoa’s existence, and much of the original lowland forest has already disappeared. For this reason, the anoa has been included in an EEP, a European Endangered Species Programme.
