Species of the Day: Banteng

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The Banteng, Bos javanicus, is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. A species of wild cattle, the Banteng occurs in Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Indonesia, with a large introduced population in northern Australia.

The Banteng has been eradicated from much of its historical range, and the remaining wild population, estimated at no more than 8,000 individuals, is continuing to decline. Habitat loss Geographical range and hunting present the greatest threats to its survival, with the illegal trade in meat and horns www.iucnredlist.org still being widespread in Southeast Asia. www.asianwildcattle.org Help Save Species Although the Banteng is legally protected across its range and occurs in a number of www.arkive.org protected areas, the natural resources of reserves in Southeast Asia often continue to be exploited. The northern Australian population may offer a conservation alternative, although genetic studies hint that the stock may originate from domesticated Bali cattle. Fortunately, a captive population is maintained worldwide which, if managed effectively and supplemented occasionally, can provide a buffer against total extinction, and offer the potential for future re- introductions into the wild.

The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: Species of the Day IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife is sponsored by International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.