Description

The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is a compact, powerfully built wild buffalo endemic to Mindoro Island. Adults reach only 1.0 meter at the shoulder, stretch about 2.2 meters in body length, and weigh 200–300 kilograms, making them significantly smaller than their cousin, the Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee). Their dark gray to brown coats are dense, with a short tufted tail and small, sharply V-shaped horns that rise straight upward rather than curving back. These physical traits are adaptive for maneuvering through the thick forests and steep slopes of Mindoro’s highlands.

Tamaraws inhabit secondary forests, grassy glades, and montane regions at elevations between 200 and 2,000 meters. Once thriving across the island, their population declined drastically due to hunting, habitat loss, and disease transmitted by domestic cattle. Unlike other buffalo species, Tamaraws are solitary or form small family groups, a behavioral adaptation to avoid predation and human contact. Their genetic isolation and shrinking range make them a living relic of the Pleistocene fauna that once covered the Philippine archipelago.

Today, the Tamaraw is not only a symbol of the Philippines’ natural heritage but also a critical conservation focus. Protected areas such as Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park remain its final refuge. Despite being critically endangered, the species demonstrates remarkable resilience—a quiet reminder of what can endure even in humanity’s shadow.