Banteng Birth at the Wilds Represents
Assisted Reproduction Success
Cumberland, Ohio – The recent birth of a Javan Banteng at the Wilds has researchers celebrating. The female calf, which is currently being carefully protected by its mother in the open-range area of the Wilds, represents an assisted reproduction success story.
Banteng (Bos javanicus) is an endangered wild cattle species from southeast Asia. Wild populations of the species are declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and hybrid breeding with domestic cattle.
The birth this month at the Wilds is the result of years of collaborative research involving colleagues from the St. Louis Zoo and Clemson University. After carefully studying and synchronizing the reproductive cycles of five female Banteng, the Wilds veterinary staff used semen from a now deceased Banteng bull to artificially inseminate them in October of 2005. Of the five inseminated, the mother of the new calf was the only successful pregnancy.
"This is an exciting project,” said Dr. Barbara Wolfe, Director of Conservation Medicine at the Wilds, “because we are continuing to improve the genetic diversity in the captive Banteng population even after the valuable donors are no longer capable of reproducing. This is the sort of organized effort that will be necessary to save some species from extinction."
This birth is significant because the bull from which the semen was collected was genetically valuable for the overall health of Banteng population. The assisted reproduction technique that led to this birth has been used successfully in the past. In fact, one of the Banteng bulls at the Wilds was the first Banteng calf produced by artificial insemination.
The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world, with a mission to advance conservation through science, education, and personal experience. Located on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, the Wilds is home to more than 25 species of non-native wildlife from Africa, Asia and North America and hundreds of indigenous species. In addition to innovative, in-depth science and education programs, the Wilds offers guided experiences to the public on selected days May through October.
Further information is available by visiting www.thewilds.org or by calling 740-638-5030.
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