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.