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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | 220-300 |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Critically Endangered |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
Formerly, Tamaraw were found across the whole of Mindoro from sea level to the high peaks (to over 1,800 m), inhabiting open grassland or forest glades, thick bamboo-jungle, marshy river valleys, and low to mid-elevation forests (Rabor 1977). Currently the species is confined to a few remote areas over 200 m, and is most often recorded in secondary forest and mixed forest/grassland (Kuehn 1986, Custodio et al. 1996, Heaney et al. 2002).
Tamaraw are largely solitary, although females occur with offspring (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Males and females occasionally associate temporarily throughout the year (Custodio et al. 1996), which is similar to other bovine species, such as African Buffalo, Banteng and Gaur. The solitary nature of the species is probably an adaptation to forest habitats, where large groups would prove to be a hindrance (Eisenberg 1966, in Kuehn 1986).
Tamaraw feed primarily on grasses, as well as young bamboo shoots, in open grasslands, resting within tall grasses or dense forest (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Although formerly diurnal, Tamaraw have become largely nocturnal due to human encroachment and disturbance (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Within its "core zone" inside Mount Iglit-Baco National Park, the Tamaraw again shows a rather diurnal behaviour and can be seen in larger groups, which can be explained by the relative protection they benefit from there.
Tamaraw are largely solitary, although females occur with offspring (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Males and females occasionally associate temporarily throughout the year (Custodio et al. 1996), which is similar to other bovine species, such as African Buffalo, Banteng and Gaur. The solitary nature of the species is probably an adaptation to forest habitats, where large groups would prove to be a hindrance (Eisenberg 1966, in Kuehn 1986).
Tamaraw feed primarily on grasses, as well as young bamboo shoots, in open grasslands, resting within tall grasses or dense forest (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Although formerly diurnal, Tamaraw have become largely nocturnal due to human encroachment and disturbance (Talbot and Talbot 1966). Within its "core zone" inside Mount Iglit-Baco National Park, the Tamaraw again shows a rather diurnal behaviour and can be seen in larger groups, which can be explained by the relative protection they benefit from there.
Range:
The Tamaraw is endemic to the Philippine island of Mindoro (9,735 km² in area), where it was formerly widespread across the island (S. Hedges and W. Duckworth pers. comms. 2000, Heaney et al. 2002). However, the current range is estimated to cover less than 10,000 hectares (Schütz 2015) and limited to the mountainous interior of the Island: Mount Iglit-Baco National Park (the largest protected area of Mindoro located in the centre of the Island), the Aruyan-Malati Tamaraw Reservation (Municipality of Sablayan), and Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary in the north of the Island represent the three known surviving subpopulations and are all located on the Occidental part of Mindoro (Custodio et al. 1996, de Leon et al. 1996). Few other isolated groups are suspected to exist outside these subpopulations (Schütz 2015). The species was more widespread prehistorically in the Philippines, with Pleistocene epoch records from Luzon (Beyer 1957 in Kuehn 1986).
Conservation:
The Tamaraw is listed on CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix I. Tamaraw receive total protection under Philippine law. The largest of the three known subpopulations occurs in Mount Iglit-Baco National Park. A small number of Tamaraw are held in captivity in the Philippines, but the captive breeding program has had no success. Of the 21 individuals captured around 1982, there were nine individuals remaining in 1997. As of 2015 only one animal, born in captivity, was still alive and held in a half hectare enclosure. To date there are no further plans for captive breeding and the subject remains controversial. The original captive breeding programme consisted of placing the animals in a semi-natural "gene pool" on Mindoro, but these animals were not intensively managed, nor were the husbandry techniques focused on building a large captive population.
Few initiatives have been undertaken recently to address the critical situation of the species: the proclamation of the Aruyan-Malati area as “Critical Habitat” is underway and shall lead to better protection under a legal framework. Moreover, a general Protected Area Management Plan for Mount Iglit-Baco National Park shall be implemented in the near future and lead to the creation of a proper zoning system and consistent habitat management approach with the residing indigenous communities. A strictly protected zone has been already outlined within the core zone of the monitoring with no hunting activity measures.
Required research for this species includes to continue the island wide population survey to update the actual range of the species and determine if there are any additional extant populations. There is also a need for improved habitat conservation through effective management, which passes through better integration of the indigenous mangyan communities living within the range of the Tamaraw into habitat management plans. This must start by furthering ethno-ecological studies to better understand these communities, their claim, subsistence needs, their pattern of land-use (including the slash and burn agriculture) and vision upon the environment. Priority shall be first given to the remaining existing populations by securing and expending their range. In addition, the feasibility and need for a new captive breeding programme should be assessed.
Few initiatives have been undertaken recently to address the critical situation of the species: the proclamation of the Aruyan-Malati area as “Critical Habitat” is underway and shall lead to better protection under a legal framework. Moreover, a general Protected Area Management Plan for Mount Iglit-Baco National Park shall be implemented in the near future and lead to the creation of a proper zoning system and consistent habitat management approach with the residing indigenous communities. A strictly protected zone has been already outlined within the core zone of the monitoring with no hunting activity measures.
Required research for this species includes to continue the island wide population survey to update the actual range of the species and determine if there are any additional extant populations. There is also a need for improved habitat conservation through effective management, which passes through better integration of the indigenous mangyan communities living within the range of the Tamaraw into habitat management plans. This must start by furthering ethno-ecological studies to better understand these communities, their claim, subsistence needs, their pattern of land-use (including the slash and burn agriculture) and vision upon the environment. Priority shall be first given to the remaining existing populations by securing and expending their range. In addition, the feasibility and need for a new captive breeding programme should be assessed.