Thailand is significantly rich in biodiversity and endangered wild flora and fauna, including gorgeous Banteng (Bos javanicus) - a flagship species that represents the protection of lowland habitats. Banteng is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because their population and habitat are threatened, and their numbers continue to decline. Thailand is considered the most promising country not just in the region, but also globally, for banteng recovery.
Recognizing the significant role of Banteng in the ecosystem and the urgency of conserving them, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation has previously developed an action plan for them in 2019. Up-to-date population data and management directions were recently summarized at the "Status and Distribution of Banteng in Thailand" workshop, organized in May 2023 by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, and WWF Thailand and involved 9 additional key conservation partners.
Together, they created a book and an exhibition titled Beautiful Banteng…Iconic Rarity of Lowland Forests. The exhibition aims to disseminate knowledge about the Banteng, a wild bovine that is a symbol of Southeast Asia and presents ongoing population management and conservation efforts for Banteng in the future.
About the organizer
This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF Thailand), the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and 9 key partners: Mahidol University, King Mongkut's University of Technology, The Zoological Park Organization of Thailand, National Science Museum, Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation, National Parks Association of Thailand, WCS Thailand, Panthera, and IUCN.
The exhibition was initiated by the workshop "Status and Distribution of Banteng in Thailand", organized on May 16, 2023, at the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University. This workshop aimed to develop an urgent conservation plan to preserve this Banteng, beautiful and endangered wildlife species, as well as to gather data on the Banteng population size, distribution, and threats across the whole country, including threats and conflicts. This effort led to the creation of a book titled BANTENG Status, Distribution, and Management in Thailand (further details can be found at https://wwffoundation.org/3d-flip-book/banteng/).
information provided by event organizer
