Banteng

Description:

'Considered as endangered by the IUCN. The populations on the Asian mainland have decreased by about 80% in the last decades. The total number of wild bantengs is estimated to about 5,000-8,000 animals.'

Habitat:

grasslands/forests in SE Asia

Notes:

Spotting a herd of wild banteng in Alas Purwo national park was the culmination of over 6 visits to SE Asia, searching for these elusive mammals. Despite their size, they are not easy to spot, except in Alas Purwo. They have set up a 20m high viewing tower and most days, a herd moves into the open area to feed on grass. There was a small fence to keep visitors from getting too close but I went back to the area later in the day when no one was around and the park rangers let me jump the fence and get a little closer. Rusa deer, leopards and wild dogs have also been spotting in the same grasslands.