Photo credit: Daniel Heuclin
The Tamaraw, Bubalus mindorensis, is listed as ‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is the largest mammal endemic to the Philippines and can only be found on the island of Mindoro.
The main current threat to the Tamaraw is habitat loss due to farming by resettled and local people. Historically, this species was hunted for both subsistence and sport, which led to a period of drastic decline in numbers of individuals and populations. The introduction of cattle in the past also caused a rinderpest epidemic that contributed to a further decline in numbers. The Tamaraw population has now stabilized and has even shown signs of recovery due to the total ban on sport hunting, closure of nearby ranches, and more intensive patrolling and awareness activities.
The Tamaraw is listed on CITES Appendix I and also receives total protection under Philippine law. A captive breeding programme for this species proved unsuccessful, and so conservation efforts are now focused on protecting the wild population of this charismatic Philippine mammal.
Geographic Range of the Tamaraw
Credit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
To learn more about Tamaraws, click here. Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species by clicking their logo below.
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