The auspicious liberation of the banteng took place at Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday. The ceremony that heralded the start of the four creatures’ newfound freedom was a belated birthday gift for King Bhumibol as his 87th birthday was on 5 December.
About 200 Thai national parks rangers and government officers joined banteng conservation volunteers in watching as the beasts that were once endemic in Southeast Asia took their first steps of freedom. Princess Aditayadornkitikhun represented the king and presided over the ceremony.
A volunteer told media reporters that it was the first time ever time that bantengs had been returned to the wild. Although bantengs share the same genetic group as domestic cattle, they do not have the same characters. Wild bantengs are typically found in rainforests and tend to avoid contact with humans and other creatures.
Bantengs were once fairly common in Thailand. Their numbers have declined in recent decades. Conservationists say this is due to their natural habitats being swallowed up by urban areas and farms as well as poaching.
Rare Thai cattle returned to nature
News in Asia
Staff at a wildlife sanctuary in western Thailand have released four banteng into the wild. The release of the endangered bovine species was in homage to the ruler of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.