She is only 50 centimetres tall, about the same height as a traffic cone.
A rare anoa dwarf buffalo calf has been born at Chester Zoo in the UK. The newborn, named Mentari, weighed 7 kilograms at birth after mother Darcy gave birth on June 27 following a 10-month pregnancy.
The zoo said the highly endangered calf is smaller than the average dog, but could grow to weigh up to 300 kilograms and stand 1 metre tall.
Emma Evison, team manager at Chester Zoo, said: “Mom Darcy and her new baby are doing brilliantly.
“After spending her first couple of weeks bonding with mom in the safety of their cozy den, the little one has grown in strength and confidence and is now beginning to explore the outside world.
“She’s already showing plenty of personality and seeing her take those first steps outside is a real privilege – it’s something very few people will ever get the chance to witness.
“Every anoa birth is hugely important for the future of this endangered species.”
Only 2,500 anoa are thought to remain in the wild, and the species is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Lowland anoa live in the forests and swamps of Sulawesi in Indonesia, and their numbers are falling because of poaching and habitat loss.
The species is considered the smallest buffalo. Wild water buffalo are four times bigger, at 2 metres tall and weighing up to 1,200 kilograms.
Chester Zoo said it is part of a wider global partnership focused on the future of anoas.
Amy Humphreys, South East Asia field conservationist, said: “Our aim is to make sure the precious genetic diversity of these amazing animals is not lost forever.
“To do this, our plans include scientific monitoring of anoas, new local education programmes in Indonesia, raising global awareness of the threats anoas face, and coordinating conservation breeding programs.
“This new calf, born as part of that international effort, will now go on to play an important role in protecting the future of her species.”
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