Large Bovini Working Group

Species:
Banteng (Bos javanicus),
Gaur (Bos gaurus),
Kouprey (Bos sauveli),
Yak (Bos mutus),
Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee)

Coordinator: Simon Hedges

This working group focuses on the biology and conservation of the larger wild cattle and buffalo species in Asia. It acts as a “first port of call” for those seeking information on the Asian Bos species and the wild Water Buffalo, provides technical assistance and a proposal review service, and compiles status reports for all these species.


News and Activities since 2005:

The working group provided data and advice (as well as a paper/proposal review service) to a multitude of individuals and organizations interested in wild cattle and buffaloes including the American Museum of Natural History, the National Geographic Society, the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and the WWF.

Members of the group shared experiences with dung based survey methodology with the CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) program and resulted in a new standard manual for surveying elephant populations in forests that is also of relevance to wild cattle and buffalo species (Hedges & Lawson 2006).


Proposed New Actions Before End of 2008:

Much of this period will be spent completing the long-awaited “IUCN/SSC Asian Wild Cattle and Buffaloes Status Report and Conservation Action Plan”. Other key plans include publishing a report on the status of Banteng and beginning a Java-wide survey to assess the status of Banteng on the island (which is thought to contain many of the more important remaining Banteng populations).