Anoa (Bubalus spp.) Food Plants in Tanjung Peropa Wildlife Reserve, Southeast Sulawesi
Abdul Haris Mustari Department of Forest Resources Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia (haris.anoa@yahoo.com) SUMMARY A total of 46 species of anoa food plants (leaves and shoots) and two species of fruits that were known to be eaten by the animals in their natural habitat were analyzed using Proximate analysis. Browsing signs of the animals on these plants were observed in the forests, indicating that these food plants were potentially eaten by the animals in the natural habitats. Some of the analysed food plants, such as Merremia peltata, Physalis minima , and bamboos ( Schizostachyum lima and cf Schizostachyum brachycladum ), were also identified microscopically as the predominant food plants in the diets of the animals. Percentages of the nutrients in the food plants varied considerably. Percent of crude protein was 5.58 -21.60 (mean 12.70; SD 4.34), while percent of crude fibre varied from 14.68 to 62.68 (...