Range

Asia is the native home of the banteng. Here they can be found throughout Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. They are extinct in India, Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam.

An introduced population of banteng also exists in Northern Australia. Estimated to number around 400 currently, these are the descendants of 20 animals released by British troops in the 1800s.

Habitat

Banteng occupy a wide range of habitats including open deciduous forests, evergreen forests, open clearings, dense forests, bamboo jungles and secondary forests. They generally graze in clearings, retreating to dense forest to shelter.

Reproduction

Breeding in the wild is focused around May and June while in captivity it has been recorded year round.

A male will lead a herd of females. He breeds with all of them and does not allow other males to mate with them.

After a gestation period of 385 days the female will give birth to a single calf. The calf will quickly get to its feet and begin walking. It takes six to nine months before the calf is ready to be weaned off of milk.

Sexual maturity is achieved between the second and third year.

Behavior

A herd of banteng can number anywhere from 2 to 40 animals. The leader is a female and only one male is allowed in the herd. He will fight heavily for the rights to his females. Males will form bachelor herds when they are not leading a group of females.

When left in a natural state bantengs are mostly active during the day but where humans have encroached on their habitat they are primarily nocturnal.

The dhole is the main predator of the the banteng but they mainly focus on young, sick and elderly individuals. Humans also prey upon them along with using them in farming. The domesticated version of the banteng is referred to as the Bali cattle.

Quick facts

Banteng are also known as tembadau.

A banteng was the second endangered species which was cloned. A cloned banteng lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for 7 years.