This species of wild cattle possesses many rare characteristics and is considered a rare gene source that needs to be preserved.
Discovery of a Rare Wild Cattle Species
According to the People’s Police Newspaper, from 2009 to early 2015 in Bạc Rây 2 village (Phước Bình commune, Bác Ái district, Ninh Thuận province), which is a buffer zone of Phước Bình National Park, a male wild cattle frequently appeared during the rainy season from June to September, joining the local farmers’ herds and grazing together in the grasslands near the forest. This male cattle is approximately 1.7 meters tall, over 2 meters long, and weighs around 1 ton.
The wild male cattle that joined the local herd is identified as a Southeast Asian wild cattle. (Photo: VTC News)
The body of the cattle is black, with well-defined muscles, and four white legs. Unlike domestic cattle, it does not have a hump on its back but instead has a prominent muscle ridge running along its spine. It has large, curved horns that taper sharply and extend forward. Some people believed it to be a wild buffalo, while others insisted it had to be a wild cattle. Afterward, forestry officials came to observe and identify it as wild cattle.
Southeast Asian wild cattle are a species with many rare characteristics. (Photo: Pixabay).
According to the report from the research team, this male wild cattle belongs to the Southeast Asian wild cattle (Bos gaurus) group, which is very aggressive. Its aggression level ranks just below that of tigers. Wild cattle are ready to attack if they detect the hiding place of hunters. They always resist to the end when feeling threatened. As a large and ferocious animal, wild cattle have almost no natural enemies. In the grasslands of Bạc Rây, the male wild cattle has become the dominant force and has conquered the female domestic cattle.
Interesting Facts About Southeast Asian Wild Cattle
This type of cattle is also known as Malayan cattle or Indian bison, but in reality, they are not closely related to the bison found in Europe and North America.
In Vietnam, Southeast Asian wild cattle are referred to as ‘con min’ by ethnic minorities. (Photo: Pixabay).
According to VTV, in Vietnam, Southeast Asian wild cattle are called ‘con min’ by ethnic minorities, meaning wild buffalo, due to their similar appearance to buffalo. From the front, they resemble buffalo and from the back, they look like cattle. Wild cattle typically live in herds of 2 to 10 individuals. Older males often live alone or form small groups.
They have short, soft fur that is dark brown or grayish-black with a slight greenish sheen on their backs. The belly fur is longer and light brown. Females usually have a reddish color. Their tails are long and black.
From the front, they resemble buffalo and from the back, they look like cattle. (Photo: Pixabay).
Wild cattle prefer to eat tender leaves, young bamboo shoots, and young grass that grows in fields or areas adjacent to forests. Southeast Asian wild cattle are recognized by zoologists worldwide as the largest wild cattle species in the world. An adult male can stand over 2 meters tall and weigh up to 2 tons, larger than both Asian water buffalo and North American bison. With this size, wild cattle rank as the third tallest land animal, only behind giraffes and elephants. They are the fifth heaviest terrestrial animal, following elephants, white rhinos, Indian rhinos, and hippos.
Southeast Asian wild cattle typically breed during June and July, giving birth to one calf each year. The gestation period is about 270 days. Their habitat includes evergreen forests, dry dipterocarp forests, bamboo and rattan mixed forests, and secondary forests at altitudes of 500 – 1500 meters above sea level.
Southeast Asian wild cattle are recognized globally as one of the largest wild cattle species. (Photo: Pixabay).
Southeast Asian wild cattle possess many valuable traits such as large stature and good resilience to harsh climatic conditions, making them a rare genetic resource that needs to be preserved and can be developed for breeding purposes.
They have been listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global population was estimated to be a maximum of 21,000 adults in 2016. Their numbers have decreased by over 70% in the last three generations and they may have gone extinct in Sri Lanka and possibly in Bangladesh. In well-protected areas, their populations remain stable and are increasing.
They have been listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List since 1986. (Photo: Pixabay).
Currently, there are only about 300 Southeast Asian wild cattle left in Vietnam, mainly distributed in Mường Nhé National Park (Điện Biên), the Central Highlands, Chư Mom Rây National Park (Kon Tum), and Cát Tiên National Park (Lâm Đồng), as well as Phú Bài Airport (Huế). However, these wild cattle herds are facing a high risk of extinction due to deforestation and poaching of rare wildlife.
The decline in the population of this wild cattle species is attributed to two main reasons:
- Firstly, deforestation is shrinking their habitat.
- Secondly, poaching for their gallbladders.
This species of wild cattle is facing a high risk of extinction due to poaching for their gallbladders. (Photo: VTC News).
According to VTC News, many people believe that wild cattle gallbladder can help with: vitality, strengthening bones, enhancing energy, improving male physiology, and curing many chronic diseases… The gallbladder of wild cattle is also said to have medicinal properties that surpass even the gallbladder of king cobras or bears. However, experts have proven that wild cattle gallbladder is no different from that of buffalo or domestic cattle.
Moreover, in the human body, bile is secreted in small amounts sufficient for daily digestion; introducing a higher amount of bile, regardless of the animal source, into the body can lead to poisoning. Additionally, if animal bile from sick animals (infected, typhoid, or those affected by the Fasciola gigantica liver fluke) is ingested, it poses even greater dangers.
