Wild Buffalo Research Articles

Assessing the Economic and Ecological Costs of Human–Wildlife Conflict in Nuwara Eliya

Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is a growing concern in the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This study investigates the nature and distribution of HWC, with particular focus on agricultural damage, livestock losses, infrastructure destruction, and human injuries. Data were collected through field surveys, expert opinions, satellite imagery, and census data, including interviews with 720 farmers (conducted between 2021 and 2022) and 25 online questionnaires, which provided expert insights on HWC. Animals such as wild boars, bandicoots, barking deer, toque macaques, porcupines, buffaloes, sambar, and leopards were found to be key to HWC, contributing to crop raiding, livestock predation, and infrastructure damage, and through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), the wild boar was determined to have the greatest impact. Spatial analysis revealed conflict hotspots near forest and tea plantation boundaries, emphasizing the influence of land use and proximity to wildlife habitats. Mitigation strategies were explored; most farmers utilize multiple conflict reduction strategies, with varying efficacy. These findings underline the importance of developing region-specific strategies for HWC management, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and fostering coexistence between wildlife and local communities.

The Bacterial and pathogenic landscape of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) whole blood and serum from Kenya

BackgroundAfrican buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a significant reservoir host for many zoonotic and parasitic infections in Africa. These include a range of viruses and pathogenic bacteria, such as tick-borne rickettsial organisms. Despite the considerations of mammalian blood as a sterile environment, blood microbiome sequencing could become crucial for agnostic biosurveillance. This study investigated the blood microbiome of clinically healthy wild buffaloes in Kenya to determine its applicability in agnostic testing for bacteria in apparently healthy wild animals.MethodsWhole blood and serum samples were collected from 46 wild African buffalos from Meru National Park (30), Buffalo Springs (6) and Shaba (10) National Reserves in upper eastern Kenya. Total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from these samples and subjected to amplicon-based sequencing targeting the 16 S rRNA gene. The bacteria operational taxonomic units (OTU) were identified to species levels by mapping the generated V12 and V45 regions of 16 S rRNA gene to the SILVA database. These OTU tables were used to infer the microbial abundance in each sample type and at the individual animal level. The sequences for the corresponding OTUs were also used to generate phylogenetic trees and thus infer evolution for the OTUs of interest.ResultsHere, we demonstrate that buffaloes harbor many bacteria in their blood. We also report a diversity of 16 S rRNA gene sequences for Anaplasma and Mycoplasma from individual animals. By sequencing both whole blood and serum in triplicate for each animal, we provide evidence of the differences in detecting bacteria in both sample types.ConclusionsDiverse bacteria, including some potential pathogens, can be found in the blood of clinically healthy wild African buffalo. Agnostic surveillance for such pathogens can be achieved through blood microbiome sequencing. However, considerations for the question being asked for the blood microbiome in wildlife will impact the choice for using whole blood or serum for sequencing.

Complete Genomic Landscape Reveals Hidden Evolutionary History and Selection Signature in Asian Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

To identify the genetic determinants of domestication and productivity of Asian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), 470 genomes of domesticated river and swamp buffaloes along with their putative ancestors, the wild water buffaloes (Bubalus arnee) are sequenced and integrated. The swamp buffaloes inherit the morphology of the wild buffaloes. In contrast, most river buffaloes are unique in their morphology, but their genomes cluster with the wild buffaloes. The levels of genomic diversity in Italian river and Indonesian swamp buffaloes decrease at opposite extremes of their distribution range. Purifying selection prevented the accumulation of harmful loss-of-function variants in the Indonesian buffaloes. Genes that evolved rapidly (e.g., GKAP1) following differential selections in the river and swamp buffaloes are involved in their reproduction. Genes related to milk production (e.g., CSN2) and coat color (e.g., MC1R) underwent strong selections in the dairy river buffaloes via soft and hard selective sweeps, respectively. The selective sweeps and single-cell RNA-seq data revealed the luminal cells as the key cell type in response to artificial selection for milk production of the dairy buffaloes. These findings show how artificial selection has been driving the evolutionary divergence and genetic differentiation in morphology and productivity of Asian water buffaloes.

The dynamics of Bovini exploitation strategies on the Central Plains of China from the Middle Neolithic to the Bronze Age

Bos and Bubalus are important Bovini resources worldwide and were widely exploited on the Central Plains of China during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. However, distinguishing between Bos and Bubalus remains were challenging due to their similar morphological traits, which leaves the interaction between them poorly understood. This study is the first to combine Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) with zooarchaeological methods to identify Bos and Bubalus in China at the Tuchengwang (5600–4300 cal. BP), and Pingliangtai (4200–3900 cal. BP) sites. This was accompanied by carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of bone collagen to discuss their diets on the Central Plains. Our findings indicate that these exploitation strategies are dynamic. Aurochs (Bos primigenius) and water buffaloes (Bubalus mepistopheles) were exploited before the introduction of cattle (Bos taurus), and this exploitation continued into the Bronze Age. The exploitation of local wild Bovini resources may have influenced the adoption of cattle during the End Neolithic. By this time, cattle predominated in Bovini remains at most sites, but the adoption of cattle was not a phenomenon of unison, and their exploitation strategies became more diverse, especially in ritual practices. Wild water buffaloes had evolved into privilege goods by the Bronze Age, especially during the late Shang. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of human-animal-environment relationships between Bovini and ancient people.

Unveiling the mysteries of Asian herbivores resource partitioning in tropical wet-grassland ecosystem

Ecological niche partitioning is fundamental for the coexistence of sympatric species. However, the relationship between herbivore body size and forage availability on resource segregation and selection remains debatable. This study quantifies the niche differentiation and selectivity of forage species consumed by six Asian large herbivores (SLH), including mega-herbivores like Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and Asiatic wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee), and meso-herbivores like swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii), hog deer (Axis porcinus) and sambar (Rusa unicolor) in tropical wet-grasslands of the Brahmaputra floodplains. We hypothesized that body size influences dietary niche breadth and interspecific dietary similarities or dissimilarities, while forage availability influences forage selectivity among Asian herbivores. We used micro-histological technique, harvest method and Jacobs Index to quantify SLH foraging patterns, forage availability and preference, respectively. Results of the study revealed high niche breadth for elephant (0.56>Bs≤0.74) among mega-herbivores and for sambar (0.49>Bs≤0.64) among meso-herbivores. SLH showed a significant positive correlation between body size and niche breadth in wet season. High dietary overlap was recorded between buffalo and hog deer (0.79–0.86) and swamp deer and hog deer (0.75–0.86) among SLH, rhino and buffalo (0.80–0.83) among mega-herbivores, and swamp deer and hog deer (0.75–0.86) among meso-herbivores. High dietary dissimilarity was recorded between elephant and swamp deer (36–37 %), elephant and buffalo (27–33 %), and swamp deer and sambar (27–29 %). Compared to dry season (1354.54 ±641.30 g m˗2), significantly higher biomass was recorded in wet season (3026.93 ±1632.65 g m˗2; p<0.05). From dry to wet season, rhino, buffalo and hog deer shift their preferred forage from dicot to monocot. Dicot was the most preferred forage of elephant among mega-herbivores, and monocot of swamp deer and sambar among meso-herbivores. Mega- and meso-herbivores avoid invasives Merremia umbellata and Mimosa spp., while meso-herbivores avoid Mikania micrantha. Body size explains niche partitioning only for rhino, elephant and swamp deer. Forage availability contributed to niche breadth and forage preference. In conclusion, forage segregation, despite being challenging to interpret at taxonomic level, influences niche partitioning among mega- and meso-herbivores.

Evaluating the potential for reintroducing the endangered wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Kanha National Park, central India

Reintroducing megafauna to their historic range is an effective strategy to halt their extinctions and restore ecosystems. Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is an endangered megaherbivore that is lost from 95% of its range. About 90% of its global population (less than 4000) resides within India, in two isolated populations: northeast and central India. The central Indian population is on the verge of extinction and warrants urgent conservation interventions. We assess the potential and provide a strategy for reintroducing buffaloes in Kanha National Park, India. Habitat suitability using the global occurrence of buffalo revealed low‐lying grasslands with least human pressure found in Kanha (390 km2) to be suitable. Within this suitable range, we evaluated vegetation composition, forage biomass, and potential carrying capacity. Multidimensional ordination classified these suitable sites into moist and dry grassland clusters. Moist grasslands were found to better suit reintroduction due to lower grazing pressure, higher productivity, and availability of perennial water sources. Distinct matriarchal clades of swamp and river buffalo were observed. Within the river buffalo clade, Indian wild buffaloes formed a distinct cluster with close proximity between northeast and central Indian samples, suggesting northeast buffaloes could be sourced for a founding population in Kanha. Following IUCN guidelines, we discuss the reintroduction strategy that could sustain approximately 200 buffaloes in the area and subsequently expand to other suitable habitats in central India. If implemented as proposed, recovery of this lost ecosystem engineer will help to restore grasslands, and swamp habitats, as well as contribute to its global conservation efforts.

Commentary: A Look at the Wild Buffalo (Bubalus Arnee) Translocation Project in Nepal, and Why it Likely Failed

Commentary: A Look at the Wild Buffalo (Bubalus Arnee) Translocation Project in Nepal, and Why it Likely Failed

Commentary: A Look at the Wild Buffalo (Bubalus Arnee) Translocation Project in Nepal, and Why it Likely Failed

The Himalayan nation of Nepal has had many conservation successes since it first embarked on modern conservation programs beginning in the 1970s. Over 20% of its landmass is now covered in protected areas and many wildlife populations are recovering [1].

성경적 관점에서 바라본 매리언 무어의 「물소」와 「아홉 개의 승도복숭아」

This study aims to reinterpret Marianne Moore’s “The Buffalo” and “Nine Nectarines” from a Biblical perspective, unveiling her obscure poetic vision by repositioning her in the tradition of English poetry as a poet of a ‘line of vision’ including Sidney, Spenser, Milton, and Blake. Moore, well-known as one of the representative modernist poets alongside Pound and Eliot in the early 20th century, has long been recognized as a poet of the ‘line of wit,’ encompassing Donne, Dryden, and Pope, a viewpoint that Eliot advocated particularly fervently. However, considering the critical influence exerted by Blake on her identification as a poet, it becomes necessary to reconsider Moore as one of the visionary poets and analyze her work through the lens of the Bible. Just as the work of visionary poets can be understood through the great code of their art, the Bible, so can the work of Moore. Therefore, this paper attempts Biblical interpretations of Moore’s two poems “The Buffalo” and “Nine Nectarines,” which have been criticized from various perspectives, even to the extent of confusion and abstruseness. Both of them, which depict a wild Indian buffalo and nine wild nectarines as their respective poetic objects, are based on the Christian creationism, asserting that all of nature as ‘the work of God,’ reflects the invisible qualities of the Creator and His son, Christ. Firstly, “The Buffalo” praises not only the great power and prudent charity of the Creator but also the self-sacrificial service of Christ through the wild extinct Indian buffalo. Secondly, “Nine Nectarines” deals with such main themes of Christianity as immortality, faith, and the virtue of the Savior, through the main poetic images, nine wild nectarines as well as the ‘kylin.’ It is expected that this study will raise the significance of Biblical study in Moore’s poetry, expand the boundary of its interpretation, and delve into her profound poetic vision, which has not yet been clearly explored.

Reproductive Behavior of Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Chitwan National Park, Nepal

The Asiatic wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee Kerr), an endangered species featured on the IUCN Red List, is distributed across Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand. This investigation delves into the reproductive and certain social behaviors exhibited by Bubalus arnee across distinct habitats and herd types within Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) and Chitwan National Park (CNP) during the premonsoon and postmonsoon spans of 2018. The data were amassed through direct observations employing focal animal sampling, continuous sampling, and scan sampling methodologies. Eight primary behavioral activities were noted: chasing, courtship, grazing, mating, mowing, sniffing, urination, and wallowing. We carefully structured the gathered data and input it into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to facilitate analysis. For a more comprehensive visualization of reproductive behavior, we utilized the ggplot2 package within R-studio, enabling the creation of informative graphical depictions. During the premonsoon phase, Bull A exhibited six reproductive behaviors in KTWR. Notably, sniffing was the most frequently observed behavior, recorded six times (37.5%) daily, succeeded by fighting and urination with four (25%) and three (18.35%) daily observations, respectively. Chasing, mating, and courtship were each observed once (6.25%) daily. In contrast, during both seasons, Bulls B, M, and J were not observed partaking in mating activities. When analyzing the postmonsoon reproductive behavior of the observed B. arnee in KTWR and CNP, a notable distinction emerged. In KTWR, there were four more instances of sniffing behavior compared to CNP. In addition, courtship behavior was slightly more frequent in KTWR, occurring three times, whereas it was observed only twice in CNP. Similarly, urination activity was recorded twice as often in KTWR as compared to CNP. As a suggestion for future research, exploring the specific factors influencing the observed variations in reproductive behaviors and habitat preferences of Bubalus arnee could provide valuable insights into the conservation and management of these endangered species.

Molecular Data and Karyotype Revealed Two Distinct Species of Domesticated Water Buffaloes in the Philippines

The six species of the genus Bubalus include the lowland and mountain anoa, Asian wild buffalo, tamaraw, swamp buffalo, and riverine buffalo. Few studies were conducted on the matrilineal phylogeny and genetic diversity of Bubalus species. In addition, there is controversy regarding the identity of the two domesticated water buffaloes in the Philippines – the introduced riverine and the native swamp buffalo. Thus, this study aimed to determine the genetic distance and phylogenetic relationship of Bubalus species using the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) variation and to re-evaluate the taxonomic species designation of Bubalus bubalis. A total of499 Philippine cytb sequences from this study (n = 179), as well as other Asian countries (n = 319)and Syncerus caffer (n = 1), from NCBI were included in the analysis. The highest interspecies genetic distance (d) (0.040) was between the tamaraw and lowland anoa, whereas the lowest genetic distance (0.020) was between mountain and lowland anoa. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree indicated 52 haplotypes that delineated three groups, including lowland anoa, mountain anoa, and tamaraw with two domesticated buffaloes. The latter group further separated into three species – tamaraw, riverine, and swamp buffaloes. The analyses of genetic distance,phylogeny, and median-joining network structure based on cytb confirmed that the swamp buffaloes from Occidental Mindoro and South Cotabato, Philippines belong to maternal lineage B. Karyotype analysis consistently confirms that riverine buffaloes possess 50 chromosomes, whereas swamp buffaloes have 48 chromosomes, aligning with previous findings. Moreover, the swamp and riverine buffaloes appear to be distinct species, with the swamp buffalo having a closer affinity to the tamaraw than to the riverine buffalo. We, therefore, propose to revive the species assignment of the Bubalus kerabau Fitzinger, 1860 as a distinct species to the swamp buffalo. Furthermore, a common maternal ancestry was confirmed between the tamaraw and two domesticated buffaloes – the swamp and riverine. Research findings provided valuable information on understanding and monitoring the matrilineal genetic diversity of the genus Bubalus toward conservation and management.

New evidence regarding the taxonomic status of the wild buffalo (Bubalus sp.) in Sri Lanka

New evidence regarding the taxonomic status of the wild buffalo (Bubalus sp.) in Sri Lanka

Investigation on Situation of Habitat and Allocation of Time Budget of Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Investigation on Situation of Habitat and Allocation of Time Budget of Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Risk Factors and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Lumpy Skin Disease Occurrence in the Asian Continent during 2012–2022: An Ecological Niche Model

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging transboundary infectious disease of animals with high morbidity and low mortality rates. The infection occurs in cattle, buffalo, and some closely related wild animals, with cattle and buffalo showing higher susceptibility than other species. The primary mode of disease transmission is the mechanical dispersion of bloodsucking insects. The disease symptoms, including animal fur damage, weight loss, decline in milk production, infertility, and miscarriage, lead to huge economic losses in regions and countries with LSD outbreaks. The present study aimed to analyze the incidence data of LSD in the Asian continent from January 2012 to September 2022, identify spatiotemporal clusters and risk factors of the disease, and establish a maximum entropy ecological niche model to predict high-risk areas for disease outbreaks. The studied variables included bioclimatic factors, land type, and population density. Following the screening process, 12 variables were included in the maximum entropy model. Among them, the variable contribution rates of cattle density, land cover, isothermality, buffalo density, and maximum temperature of the warmest month were 53.8%, 10.9%, 9.2%, 8.9%, and 8%, respectively. Accounting for more than 90% of the total variable contribution rate, these five variables were considered to be the important influencing factors of LSD outbreaks. According to the results, nine spatiotemporal clusters approximately matched the high-risk areas predicted by the model. The Caucasus region of Russia; the Russian border areas of Kazakhstan, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel; and the western regions of Iran, India, and Southeast Asia were predicted to be high-risk areas. Thus, this study provides the spatiotemporal clusters, risk factors, and high-risk areas of LSD outbreaks in the Asian continent, which can help formulate more effective disease prevention and control policies.

A pioneering method to identify bovine horn trophy: A combined morphometric and DNA-based approach in wildlife forensics

We describe a protocol for identifying wild versus domestic bovid horns using multidisciplinary approaches for implementing applicable wildlife laws. We used DNA and morphometry methods to identify four wild and two domestic bovid species from horn trophies. It helped in testing a horn trophy suspected from a wild buffalo that was seized by authorities and sent to us for species identification. Two measurements, circumference at the base (CAB) and length on the front curve (LOFC), were measured for the seized and different bovids horns. The three-dimensional (3-D) scatter plot, generated by the values of CAB, LOFC and CAB/LOFC, differentiated the different bovid species into distinct clusters and placed the seized horn in the proximity of domestic water buffalos. The Bayesian evolutionary analysis of the partial D-loop gene (521 bp) placed the seized horn in a clade with swamp buffalos, which are considered domestic. Hence, the morphometric and the DNA analyses showed consensus in concluding that the seized horn originated from a domestic buffalo. The current protocol may differentiate between wild water buffalo, wild yak, guar, takin and domestic water buffalos (river and swamp). It may also help address the illegal wildlife trade of different bovid species at national and international levels.

Study of Large Ruminants Diversity in Java at Eighth Century Based on Borobudur Temple Reliefs

Large ruminants, consisting of cattle and buffalo, have played an important role in human life from the past to the present. Information about the utilization of large ruminants was often found in inscriptions in ancient Java. Unfortunately, the diversity of these large ruminants was not described in detail. The reliefs of the temples can be used as a consideration in understanding the diversity of large ruminants based on the morphological characteristics carved in the reliefs. Borobudur Temple, a historical building from the 8th century AD which was rich in reliefs, can be used as a data source to find information about the diversity of the large ruminants in Java. The aims of this study was to find the diversity of the large ruminants in Java in the 8th century based on the reliefs at Borobudur Temple. The research was conducted by observing various large ruminant images contained in the reliefs of Borobudur Temple. The results of the observations were interpreted and clustered based on their morphological characteristics. The results showed that there were ten relief panels containing images of cattle and nine relief panels containing images of buffalo. Based on the observed morphological characteristics, it could be concluded that there was only one breed of cattle and buffalo, respectively zebu (Bos indicus) and wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee).

Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Paschim Kusaha Village of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Sunsari District, Nepal

Human-wildlife conflict has been one of the most trouble-causing issues in many areas of Nepal including Eastern Nepal. This study assessed the human-wildlife conflict status in Paschim Kusaha Village of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), Sunsari District, Nepal. Data were collected from 47 respondents of different households through questionnaire surveys and formal and informal interviews. Results revealed that the most destructive wild animals were wild elephants, wild boar, and wild water buffalo and the most raided crops were paddy (63.83 %), maize (19.15%), and potato (17.02%). Most of the encounters between humans and wildlife were recorded at night (after dusk and before dawn) (78.72%). Local people were suffering from damage of physical properties, human harassment or nuisance, and depredation of cropland due to wild animals. A total of 70% of respondents had a positive attitude towards conservation despite disturbing human mortality records (22 deaths in the last five years) from the reserve area and surrounding. Awareness of wildlife behavior together with conservation and easy access to compensation schemes were suggested to minimize conflicts in the area.

Impact and Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict Around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

In some areas, Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a key issue for conservation and sustainable rural development due to increasing habitat loss and resource competition, resulting from the climate crisis and increasing human population. This study explored perceptions and experiences of HEC by smallholder farmers in villages near Kaziranga National Park, India. Interviews were conducted with 140 households in 29 villages using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participatory risk mapping was also conducted in three villages to identify perceived risks and their severity. Respondents considered crop-eating as a considerable challenge to efficient and productive farming. HEC scored a risk index of 0.986, greater than wild buffalo and one-horned rhinoceros combined. HEC around Kaziranga National Park is mainly nocturnal and seasonal, with peak activity in winter. Mitigation was primarily traditional 'drive-away' methods of shouting and burning tires. Villagers considered elephants an embodiment of the elephant God, Ganesha, which has conservation value. The government compensation policy was known to 40% of respondents, and 75% of them believed it complex and inadequate based on their experience. Tolerance for HEC was evident; 94% of respondents expressed a desire to remain in their village. Affected farmers recommended solar-powered electric fencing and efficient compensation to reduce HEC impacts. Mitigation measures should engage farmers, build trust, and address perceptions of successful outcomes. Effective HEC mitigation is essential to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals in affected regions as well as elephant conservation.

Impact and Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict Around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

In some areas, Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a key issue for conservation and sustainable rural development due to increasing habitat loss and resource competition, resulting from the climate crisis and increasing human population. This study explored perceptions and experiences of HEC by smallholder farmers in villages near Kaziranga National Park, India. Interviews were conducted with 140 households in 29 villages using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participatory risk mapping was also conducted in three villages to identify perceived risks and their severity. Respondents considered crop-eating as a considerable challenge to efficient and productive farming. HEC scored a risk index of 0.986, greater than wild buffalo and one-horned rhinoceros combined. HEC around Kaziranga National Park is mainly nocturnal and seasonal, with peak activity in winter. Mitigation was primarily traditional 'drive-away' methods of shouting and burning tires. Villagers considered elephants an embodiment of the elephant God, Ganesha, which has conservation value. The government compensation policy was known to 40% of respondents, and 75% of them believed it complex and inadequate based on their experience. Tolerance for HEC was evident; 94% of respondents expressed a desire to remain in their village. Affected farmers recommended solar-powered electric fencing and efficient compensation to reduce HEC impacts. Mitigation measures should engage farmers, build trust, and address perceptions of successful outcomes. Effective HEC mitigation is essential to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals in affected regions as well as elephant conservation.

Draft genome of the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) and comparison with buffalo genome assemblies (Bovidae, Bubalina).

Genomic data for wild species of the genus Bubalus (Asian buffaloes) are still lacking while several whole genomes are currently available for domestic water buffaloes. To address this, we sequenced the genome of a wild endangered dwarf buffalo, the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis), produced a draft genome assembly and made comparison to published buffalo genomes. The lowland anoa genome assembly was 2.56 Gbp long and contained 103,135 contigs, the longest contig being 337.39 kbp long. N50 and L50 values were 38.73 and 19.83 kbp, respectively, mean coverage was 44× and GC content was 41.74%. Two strategies were adopted to evaluate genome completeness: (1) determination of genomic features with de novo and homology-based predictions using annotations of chromosome-level genome assembly of the river buffalo and (2) employment of benchmarking against universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCO). Homology-based predictions identified 94.51% complete and 3.65% partial genomic features. De novo gene predictions identified 32,393 genes, representing 97.14% of the reference's annotated genes, whilst BUSCO search against the mammalian orthologs database identified 71.1% complete, 11.7% fragmented, and 17.2% missing orthologs, indicating a good level of completeness for downstream analyses. Repeat analyses indicated that the lowland anoa genome contains 42.12% of repetitive regions. The genome assembly of the lowland anoa is expected to contribute to comparative genome analyses among bovid species.