ANOA (Bubalus sp)

IDENTIFICATION OF NATURAL FEED OF ANOA (Bubalus sp.)
IN ADVANCE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

by
Pujaningsih, RI
Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Fac. of Animal Husbandry,
Diponegoro University Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
E-mail: retnoip@telkom.net Fax.: +62 24 7474750 Telephone: +62248319308

Abstract



The decreasing of Anoa’s territory has reduced the feed availability in natural habitat. Thus any information related to natural feed and its alternatives for Anoa is valuable. This study was aimed to determine the composition of natural feed and the nutrient content of each plant to find its alternatives. The outcome of this research is to give basic information concerning the conservation and captivation of Anoa as an endemic and endangered animal in Sulawesi. Research was performed as field research at Zona National Lore Lindu Park of Rain Forest in Central Sulawesi and laboratory research in the laboratory of Forage Science, Animal Nutrition and Feed Science Department, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Diponegoro University. The research was conducted from March to November 2004. Thirty sample plots were made by the size of 10x10 m. Nutrition content of the vegetation was analyzed by proximat analysis. Density and the amount of vegetation were determined by Odum’s method. The results indicated that there are eleven plants which were desirable by Anoa: Areca sp, Elatostema sp, Rubus sp, Zingiber sp, Nephrolepis sp, Cyrtandra sp, Begonia sp, Eragrostis sp, Saccharum sp, Homalomena sp, Paspalum conjugatum. Elatostema sp were found frequently in the centre-side area of the Park. Rubus sp, Zingiber sp, Nephrolepis sp, Begonia sp and Homalomena sp classified as rarely seen in this field research. Concerning to their nutrient content, it can be concluded that Anoa is well adapted to the feed which contain high crude fiber content (20-45%) and relatively low protein content (5-13%). So, Anoa can be fed by some alternative vegetation which at least has equivalent quality. Anoa’s vegetation feed consists of plants which can be cultivated easily. A good socialization about Anoa’s feed cultivation is expected to increase the economic growth for resident who lives around tropical forest and also preventing the resident from opening the protected forest and hunting the Anoa wildly.

Keywords: endemic, endangered, forage, crop