Wild water buffalo
The wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is a large bovine native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the wild ancestor of domestic water buffalo.
Bovini: Bovini is the cattle tribe of large, hoofed ruminants, including cattle, bison, and buffalo. Wild water buffalo belongs to this tribe alongside other large bovines.
South Asian riverine grasslands: South Asian riverine grasslands are seasonally flooded plains shaped by rivers, monsoons, and grazing. These grasslands provide key feeding and breeding habitat for remaining populations.
Endangered species: An endangered species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Wild water buffalo is classified as endangered because its population and range have sharply contracted.
Wild water buffalo in India: India holds most of the remaining wild water buffalo, chiefly in a handful of protected landscapes. Indian populations form the main stronghold for the species.
Bubalus: Bubalus is a genus of Asian buffaloes that includes wild and domestic water buffalo. The species is the wild member of the genus from which domestic water buffalo derive.
Kaziranga National Park: Kaziranga National Park is a protected area in Assam, India, known for its floodplain wildlife. It holds one of the best-known protected populations of wild water buffalo.
IUCN Red List: The IUCN Red List assesses species’ extinction risk using standardized categories and criteria. Its assessment records the species’ threatened status and the evidence behind it.
Wild water buffalo in Nepal: Nepal has a small wild water buffalo population established through conservation translocation. This population illustrates efforts to restore the species outside its principal stronghold.
Domestic water buffalo: Domestic water buffalo are Asian buffalo kept by people for work, milk, meat, and hides. They descend from wild water buffalo but differ through domestication and selective breeding.
Manas National Park: Manas National Park is a protected landscape in Assam, India, bordering Bhutan. Its grasslands and wetlands support wild water buffalo in the species’ Indian range.