Status Endangered
Size Head –body 122-188cm; shoulder height 60-100cm
Weight Up to 300kg
Gestation 275-315 days
Young 1
Life span 20-30 years
Lowland anoas are browsers, feeding on a wide variety of low growing plants. Anoas in one survey were found to have browsed over 146 different types of plants. Flowering plants were found to make up more than two thirds of their diet, and they were also found to particularly seek out the fruits of several species of figs.
This species is only found in Indonesia on the islands of Sulawesi and Buton. They live in a variety of forest habitats including tropical forests, swamp and mangrove forest.
Little is known about the breeding behaviour of anoas in the wild. In captivity they start to breed at two to three years of age, and generally have one calf per year. The young are a bright reddish-orange colour when they are born. They are weaned by the time they are 6 to 9 months old.
The main threats to lowland anoas are from hunting, mainly for food, as well as from habitat loss due to land being used for agriculture. They are also threatened by forest areas being used for mining. These animals are listed on CITES Appendix I, which means that trade in these animals or any of their parts is illegal. They are also protected under Indonesian law, and are found in a number of protected areas.
Anoas wallow in pools of water and mud. This is thought to help them cool off, as well as to protect them from insects.
These animals feed during the morning and later afternoon, and rest in the shade during the hottest parts of the day. They forage for food at night.
Lowland anoas have short horns which point backwards so they don’t get tangled in the dense forest undergrowth.
Corporate Volunteering Day
The volunteering day was well organised and a great opportunity to give back to Marwell and offer a little help. We all had a great day and most definitely be back to help where we can, also recommend to anyone else who can offer their time. Paul, SSE, 23rd May 2018