Rare buffaloes endangered

Rare buffaloes endangered

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The population of rare buffaloes
in Southeast Sulawesi has continued to decline because of illegal
hunting and logging, an official said.

"The dwindling population of Southeast Sulawesi buffaloes
should be seen as a catastrophe," a spokesman for the local
administration, Yusran Silondae, said here over the weekend.

No study has been conducted on the beasts' number but local
environmentalists believe about 50,000 wild buffalo have died
during the past 30 years, he said.

The local administration has prepared several programs to save
the animals and other fauna and flora from extinction.

Last weekend, Southeast Sulawesi Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin
released rare buffaloes in Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park
here.