A rare anoa, the world’s smallest species of buffalo, has been born at Chester Zoo.
The female calf was born to mum Darcy following a 10-month pregnancy, weighing just 7kg and standing around 50cm tall.
Zookeepers have named her Mentari, meaning “the sun” in Malay.
Now two weeks old, Mentari has ventured out of her den for her first outdoor adventure, with the special moment captured on camera.
Anoa stand at barely one metre tall when fully grown and are found only on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, where they inhabit forests and swamps.
The species has suffered a dramatic decline as forests are cleared for agriculture and mining. The loss of habitat fragments populations and makes the animals more vulnerable to hunters.
Emma Evison, Team Manager at the zoo, said:
“Mum Darcy and her new baby are doing brilliantly. After spending her first couple of weeks bonding with mum in the safety of their cosy den, the little one has grown in strength and confidence and is now beginning to explore the outside world. She’s already showing plenty of personality and seeing her take those first steps outside is a real privilege – it’s something very few people will ever get the chance to witness.
“Every anoa birth is hugely important for the future of this endangered species. Across the European conservation breeding programme, our scientists here at Chester Zoo monitor the fertility and pregnancies of anoas, helping to build a healthy, genetically diverse population and giving this remarkable species the best possible chance of survival.”
Fewer than 2,500 anoa are believed to remain in the wild. They are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, making the birth at Chester Zoo particularly important for the future of the species.
The zoo is part of an international partnership working to prevent anoa from becoming extinct.
Amy Humphreys, South East Asia field conservationist with Chester Zoo, said:
“For more than a decade, we’ve been part of a global effort involving more than 50 organisations to help safeguard the long-term survival of the anoa and three other highly threatened species found across South East Asia – the banteng, babirusa and Sumatran tiger.”
Amy, a conservationist at Chester Zoo, is programme coordinator for the IUCN Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, which recently brought experts from around the world together to identify actions needed to protect the species.
The plans include increasing anoa populations in conservation zoos while supporting efforts to safeguard the animals and their remaining habitats in Indonesia.
She added:
“Our aim is to make sure the precious genetic diversity of these amazing animals is not lost forever. To do this, our plans include scientific monitoring of anoas, new local education programmes in Indonesia, raising global awareness of the threats anoas face, and coordinating conservation breeding programmes. This new calf, born as part of that international effort, will now go on to play an important role in protecting the future of her species.”
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