Mindoro dwarf buffalo
The tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is a small hoofed mammal native to the Philippines. It is the only endemic Philippine bovine. It is believed, however, to have once also thrived on the larger island of Luzon. The tamaraw was originally found all over Mindoro, from sea level up to the mountains (2000 m above sea level), but because of human habitation, hunting, and logging, it is now restricted to only a few remote grassy plains and is now a critically endangered species.
The tamaraw has a compact, heavyset, bovine body, four legs that end in cloven hooves, and a small, horned head at the end of a short neck. It is smaller and stockier compared to the Water buffalo. Adult tamaraw have a dark brown to grayish color. The limbs are short and stocky. White markings are seen in the hooves and the inner lower fore legs. The face is the same color as the body. Most of the members of the species also have a pair of gray-white strips that begin from the inner corner of the eye to the horns. The nose and lips have black skin. The ears are 13.5 cm (5.3 in) long from notch to tip with white markings on the insides. Both sexes grow short, black horns in a V-shaped manner. The horns have flat surfaces and are triangular at their base. Due to the regular rubbing, the tamaraw's horns have a worn outer surface, but with rough inner sides. The horns are reported to be 35.5 to 51.0 cm (14.0 to 20.1 in) long.
Tamaraw are found only on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. They prefer tropical highland forested areas and are usually found in thick brush, near open-canopied glades. Within their mountainous environment, tamaraws will usually be found not far from sources of water. They live in moist areas such as marshes and grasslands.
Tamaraw are naturally diurnal animals, however, recently they became nocturnal in order to avoid human contact. They are generally solitary and do not occur in herds or smaller packs and are often found alone. Only juveniles may gather in herds and establish a hierarchy. Males and females may associate all year round but this interaction lasts only a few hours. Males are often solitary and apparently aggressive while adult females can be alone, accompanied by a bull, or three young of different ages. Similar to other bovines, tamaraw enjoy mud wallowing; it is thought that this behavior helps the animals to avoid biting insects. Another distinct behavior in tamaraw is their fierceness. When threatened they lower their head and shake their horns. They may also chase one another.
Tamaraw are herbivorous (graminivorous) animals. They feed on grasses, young bamboo shoots, and wild sugarcane.
Little is known about the mating system in tamaraw. They breed from December to May and females give birth to a single calf. The gestation period lasts around 300 days. Calves are born reddish-brown in color and get darker closer to 3-4 years of age. Young usually stay around 2-4 years with their mother before becoming independent. Females stay with their mothers longer than males.
The biggest threat to tamaraw is habitat loss due to infrastructure development, logging, and agriculture. Hunting for food and sustenance is another serious threat that affects the species' numbers. Tamarw also suffer from poaching and diseases from livestock.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of tamaraw is around 220-300 mature individuals. This species’ numbers are decreasing and it is currently classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.
