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This article is about the endangered species commonly known as Wild Water buffalo. For the abundant domestic livestock varieties descended from it, see water buffalo.
The wild water buffalo, wild Asian buffalo or wild Asiatic buffalo[2] (Bubalis bubalis arnee or Bubalis arnee) is a large ungulate, a member of the bovine subfamily and the ancestor of the domestic Water Buffalo. It is the second largest wild bovid, smaller only than the Gaur. It is an endangered species, thought to survive in (from west to east) India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand. Wild Asian water buffalo is extinct in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Laos and Viet Nam. Feral water buffalo occur in northern Australia. The IUCN Red List of threatened species classifies the Wild Water Buffalo as an endangered species.[2] The total number of Wild Asian Buffalo left is thought to be less than 4,000, which suggests that the number of mature individuals will be less than 2,500, and an estimated continuing decline of at least 20 percent within 14 years (ca. two generations) and at least 50 percent within 21 years seems likely given the severity of the threats, especially hybridization with the abundant domestic water buffalo leading to genetic pollution.[2][3] The domestic Water Buffalo, although derived from the Wild Water Buffalo, is the product of thousands of years of selective breeding carried out by ancient Asian civilizations, especially in Pakistan and India. The slightly smaller African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is not closely related to water buffalo.
[edit] TaxonomyThe name Bubalus bubalis was originally applied to the domestic Water Buffalo, but some authorities do not consider this valid for the wild population and use the specific name arnee instead[4]. [edit] DietThe diet of a water buffalo consists of grasses and wheat. [edit] Anatomy and morphology  Adult Water Buffalo range in size from 400 to 900 kg (880 to 2,000 lb) for the domestic Water Buffalo.[5] In the wild, Water Buffalo can weigh up to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb), while females are about two-thirds this size.[5] They can stand as tall as 2 m (6.6 ft), and stretch up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in body length.[5] The largest recorded horns are just under 2 metres long.[5] However, the wild buffalo subspecies found in the Assam state of Northern India, where they inhabit monsoon forests along the foothills of the Himalaya, are notably larger. Here, the average weight of a male adult buffalo is 900 kg, a bit larger than the female. The average height at the shoulder for a male is about 1.7m, and may reach even 2 metres. These wild buffalo, which are of the purest breed in India, are now mostly found in the forests of Kaziranga and Manas national parks, both of which are UNESCO world heritage sites. They have also been known to spread into the northwestern region of the neighboring country, Myanmar. With the establishment of the 20,000 km2 Hukaung Valley tiger reserve[6] in 2004 in Burma, the largest protected area in tropical Asia, now these huge wild buffalo may have the hope of long-term survival[7]. They are classified as critically endangered, suffering mainly from genetic pollution caused by interbreeding with Domestic Buffalo. Interbreeding with domesticated buffalo is the major cause of extinction of wild buffalo. Buffalo are believed to have originated in South Asia. Today, outside India, the true wild water buffalo can only be found in Thailand in extremely low number of about 50 individuals, and in the Annamites range (also called Truong Son range) forests running along the border of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia. Populations found elsewhere in Asia are feral breeds, not true wild water buffalo. These species were introduced to Argentina and Bolivia. [edit] Genetic pollution and threat of extinctionWild Water Buffalo are threatened by genetic pollution when they come into contact with common domestic Water Buffalo which live in and around forests. The domesticated animals daily graze within forests which have been designated as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks for their wild ancestors.[2][3][8][9][10][11][12] The only predator of adult Wild Water Buffalo is the Tiger,[13] though Asian black bears have also been known to kill them,[14] and there is at least one record of a buffalo being eaten alive by a giant goonch catfish.[15] The smaller and less aggressive domesticated water buffalo can be taken by more predators, especially the saltwater crocodile (which, rarely, if ever encounters the original wild buffalo species). [edit] Modern usesWildlife and conservation scientists have started to recommend and use introduced populations of feral domestic Water Buffalo in far away lands to manage uncontrolled vegetation growth in and around natural wetlands. Introduced Water Buffalo at home in such environs provide cheap service by regularly grazing the uncontrolled vegetation and opening up clogged water bodies for waterfowl, wetland birds and other wildlife[16][17]. [edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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