Lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis)

Order:Artiodactyls
Family: Bovidae

IUCN Red list: EN (Endangered)

I.

Habitat

Forests and swamps of Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia

Informations

Anoas are the smallest members of the buffalo family. Two species exist—the mountain anoa and the lowland anoa—and both are found only on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi (formerly known as Celebes). On islands, dwarfism is a common phenomenon: with few large predators and limited food resources, a smaller body size can be advantageous. Similar dwarf forms have evolved elsewhere, such as the small elephants that once lived on Mediterranean islands, or the ancient human species discovered on the island of Flores, which stood only about one meter tall.

Anoas share a common ancestor with water buffalo, dating back more than two million years. Their wild populations are critically endangered: fewer than 2,500 mature individuals remain on Sulawesi, and their numbers continue to decline.

Anoas are also rare in zoos. In Europe, there are only around 70 lowland anoas and about 50 in North America, while the mountain anoa numbers fewer than ten individuals worldwide. Breeding them is challenging, as they are solitary animals and even paired individuals often need to be separated. Despite their small size, they can cause serious injuries with their horns.

In Hungary, anoas have only been exhibited at the Szeged Zoo. The first female, Lili, arrived in 2009, followed by a male named Poplacsek in 2010. In May 2011, their first offspring, Peri, was born.