Endangered Banteng born at Marwell Zoo

Marwell Zoo is thrilled to be able to announce the arrival of a little “Raya,” sunshine in Banteng form, born to mother, Dewi, and father, Henkey, last month. Keepers have reported that Raya, who is female, is doing well “running around with her tail held high in the air”.

Banteng are listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Originating from Asia, where they prefer dry, deciduous forests and sub-tropical grasslands, Banteng favour areas of mixed forest cover.

They have become endangered as a result of hunting and loss of habitat. They are typically shy animals who come out to graze at dusk and dawn, returning to forest cover between these times.

In the wild, Banteng tend to move in maternal herds of adult females or as all bachelor groups. Female calves will typically stay with the herd whilst males generally leave around 2-3 years old.

Did you know?

• The horns of male bantengs can grow to span 75 cm
• Banteng can survive for several days without water
• The gestation period for bantengs is around 10 months
• Banteng can expect to live 11 years in the wild or 25 years in captivity

Conservation charity Marwell Wildlife received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development in July and owns and operates the zoo.

Marwell offers visitors the chance to get up close to amazing members of the animal kingdom, from Amur tigers to towering Rothschild’s giraffes.

For more information go to marwell.org.uk