Mountain anoa

What is the mountain anoa?

The mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) is a small wild buffalo found only on Sulawesi and Buton Island. The IUCN Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group describes anoa as the smallest wild cattle. Mountain anoa are smaller and more densely haired than lowland anoa, which gives them a woolly look. Animal Diversity Web (ADW) describes a dark brown to black coat. After the February–April moult, pale marks appear on the cheeks, the neck and just above the hooves. The horns are flat at the front and triangular towards the tips.

Evidence: IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group — Anoa ↗ · Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) — Bubalus quarlesi, mountain anoa ↗

Where does the mountain anoa live?

Mountain anoa live in dense forest on Sulawesi and Buton Island, usually recorded at 1,000–2,300 m but occasionally found near sea level. The IUCN assessment summarised in Japan's ESABII database says skull records confirm the species across most of central Sulawesi and in northern Buton. Older reports also place it on the northern peninsula and part of the south-eastern peninsula. It favours forest with dense undergrowth, near plentiful water and away from human activity. Key sites include Lore Lindu and Bogani Nani Wartabone national parks and Tanjung Peropa Wildlife Reserve.

Evidence: ESABII Threatened Mammal Species Database (Biodiversity Center of Japan) — Bubalus quarlesi ↗ · IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group — Anoa ↗

What does the mountain anoa eat?

The mountain anoa is a plant-eater that browses grasses and other forest vegetation. Very little is known about its wild diet. ADW notes that palms, ferns, gingers, grasses and fruit grow in its habitat, but that list is not a confirmed menu. The specialist group explains that anoa food plants are generally low in minerals. Anoa are therefore thought to top up minerals at salt licks and mineral springs. They have also been reported drinking seawater where no licks are available.

Evidence: ESABII Threatened Mammal Species Database (Biodiversity Center of Japan) — Bubalus quarlesi ↗ · IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group — Anoa ↗ · Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) — Bubalus quarlesi, mountain anoa ↗

How does the mountain anoa live and breed?

Mountain anoa usually live alone, although several may gather at salt licks and wallows. Like other wild buffalo, they wallow and bathe in pools of water or mud. ESABII notes that in captivity anoa reach sexual maturity at 2–3 years, usually have one calf a year and may live 20–30 years. Breeding rates in the wild may be lower. ADW gives a gestation period of about 275–315 days. Calves stay with their mothers until they are relatively large.

Evidence: ESABII Threatened Mammal Species Database (Biodiversity Center of Japan) — Bubalus quarlesi ↗ · IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group — Anoa ↗ · Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) — Bubalus quarlesi, mountain anoa ↗

How does the mountain anoa differ from the lowland anoa?

The mountain anoa is smaller, shaggier and generally recorded in higher forest than the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis). These differences are not always usable in the field. ESABII notes that mountain anoa cannot be told apart from young lowland anoa. Their local ranges are also unclear, and the two may live in the same places. Whether they are separate species is still debated; some experts suggest they may be one. A 2024 mitochondrial DNA study by Priyono and colleagues found two groups, lowland and mountain, that split about 1.42 million years ago.

Evidence: IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group — Anoa ↗ · ESABII Threatened Mammal Species Database (Biodiversity Center of Japan) — Bubalus quarlesi ↗ · Evolutionary Systematics (Priyono et al. 2024) — Biogeographic history of the endangered dwarf buffalo, subgenus Anoa ↗

How can the mountain anoa be protected?

The mountain anoa is protected in Indonesia: it is listed as “anoa gunung” in the annex to Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018. IUCN lists it as Endangered, and it is on CITES Appendix I. The main threats are hunting for meat and habitat damage from farming and gold mining. Declines have been most severe in Gorontalo and Buol Toli-Toli. Recommended actions include protection from hunting, preventing habitat loss at key sites, and law enforcement combined with education. People can help by refusing anoa meat, horns or hides and by reporting hunting to the local BKSDA.

Evidence: JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang jenis tumbuhan dan satwa yang dilindungi (PDF) ↗ · ESABII Threatened Mammal Species Database (Biodiversity Center of Japan) — Bubalus quarlesi ↗ · Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) — Bubalus quarlesi, mountain anoa ↗

Explore related habitats

These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.

Sources & references

1. IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group — Anoa ↗
2. ESABII Threatened Mammal Species Database (Biodiversity Center of Japan) — Bubalus quarlesi ↗
3. Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) — Bubalus quarlesi, mountain anoa ↗
4. Evolutionary Systematics (Priyono et al. 2024) — Biogeographic history of the endangered dwarf buffalo, subgenus Anoa ↗
5. JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang jenis tumbuhan dan satwa yang dilindungi (PDF) ↗
6. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2026-1, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0) ↗

References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.

Further reading

Anoa: facts, threats and conservation ↗ — World Animal Rescue Network. A broader overview that covers this animal.

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