Are banteng making a comeback in Cambodia? Researchers find new population

Researchers have discovered a new population of banteng (Bos javanicus), a species of wild cattle, in northwestern Cambodia. The discovery was announced June 4, 2014 by Fauna and Flora International (FFI), and efforts are underway to implement conservation initiatives to protect the area and its newfound banteng, which are listed as Endangered by the IUCN. Camera trap images of six banteng were taken in a 9,500-hectare community forest in Siem Reap Province, where the species was previously believed to have gone extinct. The area is not currently officially protected. According to WWF, Cambodia is believed to hold the largest population of banteng in the world – between 2,000 and 5,000 individuals. Many of these animals are found in the eastern plains of Mondulkiri Province and the deciduous forests of northern Preah Vihear Province. According to the IUCN Red List, the species has declined 95 percent since the 1960s. A significant number of animals are believed to live in forests outside Protected Areas, as illustrated by the population near Siem Reap Province. …

 Janaki Lenin
http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0623-gfrn-lenin-banteng.html