FaunaHub
ENEndangeredPartial review

Banteng

Bos javanicus

Banteng (Bos javanicus), a wild Southeast Asian cattle species.

Banteng (Bos javanicus); this individual is in a zoo.

Image: Jar0d, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
EN · Endangered
Animal group
Mammals
Population trend
Decreasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The banteng is a wild cattle species of Southeast Asia, ancestor of domestic Bali cattle. It is assessed as Endangered.

Bulls are dark with white 'stockings'; cows are reddish-brown.

Range & habitat

Forests of Southeast Asia, with populations on Java, Borneo, and the mainland.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Hunting and poaching
  • Habitat loss
  • Hybridisation with domestic cattle

Why it matters

A wild bovine that has been domesticated in part of its range, the banteng is both an agricultural ancestor and a flagship for Southeast Asian forest conservation.

Gallery

A banteng bull.

Banteng (Bos javanicus).

Image: Magalhães, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Banteng

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the banteng related to domestic cattle?
It is the wild ancestor of the domesticated Bali cattle of Southeast Asia, and can interbreed with domestic cattle — which is also one of the threats to wild banteng.
Why is the banteng Endangered?
Published assessments cite hunting and poaching, habitat loss, and hybridisation with domestic cattle. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.

Last updated: