Chester Zoo welcomes world's smallest buffalo calf

Chester Zoo in Manchester announced the birth of Mentri, a dwarf anoa calf, on 27 June. The newborn stands about 50 cm tall and weighed 7 kg (15 lb) at birth, making it the smallest buffalo on record. Mother Darcy gave birth after a ten‑month pregnancy, and the calf has begun taking its first steps under the watch of zoo staff.

The lowland anoa is an endangered species native to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, with an estimated 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild. Chester Zoo is part of an international conservation partnership aimed at preserving the species through breeding programmes, scientific monitoring and education initiatives in Indonesia. Conservationist Amy Humphreys highlighted the importance of maintaining genetic diversity and raising global awareness of the threats faced by anoas.