National Conservation Zoo

Opening times today: 10am - 4pm (Last entry at 3pm)

About

Banteng are a herbivorous species of Southeast Asian wild cattle. Their distinctive white ‘stockings’ and rumps make them easy to spot, and you can differentiate a bull from a female by their darker color—bulls are very dark brown or black, while females are light brown.

Banteng play a more important role than you might think. They help circulate nutrients through ecosystems, disperse seeds via their poo, and maintain food chains.

They are also a critical food source for many carnivores, including tigers and leopards. Fewer than 8,000 banteng are believed to remain in the wild.

Banteng at Chester Zoo

Banteng facts

SPECIES
I am a mammal

The banteng is the second endangered species to be successfully cloned, following the cloning of the gaur.

FOUND IN
Indonesia

Banteng are found in countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

HABITAT
Grasslands and forests

As adaptive creatures, banteng inhabit deciduous, tropical, and seasonal freshwater swamp forests. They are also found in open grasslands and abandoned areas.

DIET
Herbivore

They mostly eat grass and other vegetation. 

BEHAVIOUR
Timid and reclusive

Banteng typically form herds of 2 to 40 individuals, consisting of a single bull, cows, and young. Older males, however, tend to form smaller groups of two or three. Shy and skittish, banteng are highly alert.

AVERAGE SIZE
2.5 - 3.5m long

They can weigh as much as 900kg!

LIFE SPAN
16 - 26 years

With human care, they can live up to 27 years.

ZOO LOCATION
Islands

You'll find the banteng next to the Sumatran tigers.

IUCN red list statusEndangered
Animal vulnerability index
Threats

It is estimated that the banteng population has declined by more than 50% over the past 21 years.

We are a major partner in the Global Species Management Plan (GSMP) to help protect banteng.

Together with other zoos and conservation organisations worldwide, we are sharing knowledge on the best ways to conserve banteng in the wild.

Raising awareness among zoo visitors and communities around the world is crucial for spreading the word about these incredible animals and building support for their conservation.

Threat Humans
Human intervention
Threat Climate Change
Climate change and severe weather
Threat Hunting
Hunting or collection