English: Tamaraw
Tagalog: Tamaraw
Scientific: Anoa Mindorensis
Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat
The wild Asiatic water buffalo is at present restricted to northeastern India, Ceylon, southern Vietnam, and the Malay Peninsula. This species is widely distributed as a domesticated animal and has been introduced into southern Europe, northern Africa, China, Philippines (called carabao), Indonesia, and Australia. The Tamaraw is Found only on mindoro Island in the Philippines and nowhere else in the world.
The Tamaraw is the largest land animal native to the Philippines. This small buffalo frequents dense vegetation along the rivers in the lowlands of Mindoro island and spends much of its time in the marshy areas. It is found in open grasslands and forests and range from sea level up to the high ridges of mountains on Mindoro Island, with elevation of more than 2000 m.
This dwarf buffalo is over hunted both by sport hunters and by people who are after its meat. The species is one of the top game animals and its head is considered valuable trophy by the average big-game hunter anywhere in the world. Inspite of government regulations prohibiting its capture and killing, the species continues to be collecte and killed by illegal hunters.
This dwarf buffalo is noted for its fierceness when cornered. The native hunters in Mindoro say that it is always best to have a nearly tree to climb up when hunting the Tamaraw, because it really attacks even when slightly wounded.
The Tamaraw found only on Mindoro Island and nowhere else.
Destruction of its habitat due to the deforestation or habitat alterations have been contributed to its decline. Over hunting of collecting trophies are also taken a heavy tool of Tamaraw population. From 10,00 heads in 1900's, the tamaraw population is now down 369 heads in the late 80's given them a precarious grip of survival.
Description
Small dark brown or brownish black, with more hair covering on their bodies than the carabao; as large as as half-grown carabao, with short limbs; horns short, triangular at base with very pronounced series of rough grooves on anterior, posterior and lateral sides; inner sides of horn very rough; distal parts of horns rounded, sharply pointed ans coming close together; frontal parts of skull slightly bulging; ears moderate in size.
The animal averages about 1200 mm at the shoulders. The Basal length, sex unknown, 350 mm; total, 380;width of zygoma,164; circumference of horn at base, 280; length of horn, 390; length of upper molar-premolar series, 106; length of lower molar-premolar series, 118; length of upper molar, 62; length of lower molars, 63; total length of lower jaw,322.
The characteristics of Tamaraw, the skull moderately massive, narrow and elongate; profile of face almost straight; rostrum relatively long and slender. Molars Short, high with almost square crowns.
Hair on back reversed being directed forward from haunches to head; ears relatively small.
May be as big as the common carabao and medium-sized as the Tamaraw.