The rare anoa calf – the world’s smallest species of wild cattle – arrived at Chester Zoo after a 282 day pregnancy for first time mum Oana.
Keepers have named the new female youngster Lasola.
Anoa live in forests and swamps on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi but are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with just 2,500 mature individuals estimated to remain.
Assistant curator of mammals, Dr Nick Davis, said: “As with many Indonesian island species, the lowland anoa faces an uncertain future. Hunting for their meat is a really serious threat to them. The taste is described as hot and fiery and men believe that eating the meat of this powerful, horned animal will give them prowess.
“Hunters are even managing to breach areas of Sulawesi which were thought to give protection to the anoas. The only way this hunting pressure can be reduced is through the establishment of better protected areas and education.”
The species, which is a miniature water buffalo, is sometimes referred to as the ‘demon’ of the forest as local farmers wrongly believe them to come out of the forest at night and use their horns to puncture cattle.
Dr Davis added: “In the wild they’ve been given the unfair tag as being ‘demons’ of the forest. As a result they’re persecuted by farmers who hold them responsible for damage to their cattle. Take one look at our new calf and it’s impossible to see how anyone could label or harm them in such a way – they’re a very shy and secretive animal.”
Next spring the zoo’s anoa family will move to a brand new exhibit when Islands, a new £30m development, opens. Islands, which will recreate habitats in the Phillipines, Bali, Sulawesi, Papua, Sumba and Sumatra, is billed as the biggest and most ambitious expansion project in UK zoo history.
Dr Davis added: “Indonesian islands are treasure trove of unique and fragile plants and animals and that’s why they’re a big focus for our conservation work. When it opens next year we hope our new Islands zone will really put the spotlight on species such Sumatran ornagutans, Sumatran tigers, Visayan warty pigs, Bali starlings and anoa and the threats they face.”
