Carabao

For other uses, see Carabao (disambiguation).

Carabao
A carabao in the Philippines
Country of originPhilippines[1]
DistributionPhilippines, Borneo, Sulawesi, Guam
TypeSwamp
Usedraft animal, transport, milk, hide, meat
Traits
Height
  • Male:
    127–137 cm
  • Female:
    124–129 cm
Coatlight grey to slate-grey

Carabaos (Filipino: kalabáw) are a genetically distinct population of swamp-type water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis kerabau) from the Philippines.[1] They were also further introduced to Sulawesi and Borneo of eastern Indonesia and Malaysia.[2][3][4]

Carabaos are the traditional draft animals in the Philippines for paddy field rice cultivation and are commonly raised by smallholder farmers. They were also formerly widely used for the transport of goods throughout the islands. They are a source of carabao milk and carabeef, among other products. The carabao is widely considered to be the national animal of the Philippines and symbolizes hard work.[3][5]

Carabaos were introduced to Guam from the Philippines in the 17th century. They have also acquired great cultural significance to the Chamorro people and are considered the unofficial national animal of Guam.[6]

The term "carabao" is also sometimes used for the kerbau in Malaysia, which is the official animal of the state of Negeri Sembilan.[7] However, water buffaloes from Peninsular Malaysia and western Indonesia (Java and Sumatra) are not carabaos and descend from different populations that were introduced through a later separate route from Mainland Southeast Asia rather than through Taiwan.[2]

  1. ^ a b FAO 2013. Philippine Carabao/Philippines In: Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
  2. ^ a b Lau, C. H.; Drinkwater, R. D.; Yusoff, K.; Tan, S. G.; Hetzel, D. J. S.; Barker, J. S. F. (August 1998). "Genetic diversity of Asian water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ): mitochondrial DNA D-loop and cytochrome b sequence variation". Animal Genetics. 29 (4): 253–264. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2052.1998.00309.x. PMID 9745663.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Villamor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference amano was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Hsu, Chia Chi (February 28, 2022). "The Philippines: Carabao". Southeast Asia Globe. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Minahan, James B. (December 23, 2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-34497-8.
  7. ^ "..:: Majlis Perbandaran Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, MALAYSIA ::" (in Malay). Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2008.