Banteng

Species: Banteng
Habitat: Forests of Indonesia and Java
Status: Endangered
DAK Locale: Maharajah Jungle Trek

Banteng are wild cattle. In fact, they are believed to be the ancestors of domesticated cattle of Southeast Asia. Like many cattle, there is sexual dimorphism. That is, the boys look different from the gals. The differences are readily apparent when you see the animals in their exhibit at the Maharajah Jungle Trek. The female's fur is a light chestnut color, while males have a dark brown coloration. The males are also huge weighing up to 1750 pounds, with horns up to 2.5 feet long. A formidable obstacle for a tiger looking for a meal.

Banteng preferred the dry and open forests where there are a lot of grasses, their preferred meal. They tend to eat out in the open but retire into the thickets for protection when not feeding. They also feed on bamboo. They are active both during the day and night, but where there is a heavy human population they have a mainly nocturnal lifestyle.

Its population has dropped precipitously in the last few decades. It is thought there are less than 8000 left in the wild. Over hunting is the biggest issue, as poachers kill the animal for its meat and horns. Banteng are also dangerously susceptible to diseases from local domestic cattle. The populations are the animal are also fragmented leading to genetic problems. Science is doing its best, however, to save the species. The Banteng is the second endangered species that has been successfully cloned. DNA is currently being kept in San Diego's "frozen zoo" which was used in the cloning process.