DIET COMPOSITION OF ANOA (Buballus sp.) STUDIED USING DIRECT OBSERVATION AND DUNG ANALYSIS METHOD IN THEIR HABITAT

Anoa are fully protected under Indonesian Law since 1931 (Law of Protection of Wild Animals 1931, no 134). Increasing law enforcement regarding hunting as well as promoting awareness of the Anoas unique threatened the existence of conservation measures. The modern concept of conservation based on the sustainability utilization, and therefore the knowledge of the Anoa preference in feeding to support the sustainability conservation should be studied. In the present study, the combination of direct observation methods which was done in the Lore Lindu National Park in Toro village at District Kulawi, Central Sulawesi and the epidermal analysis method which was carried out to Anoa’s dung were aimed to identify the vegetations preferred by Anoa in their habitat. The result showed 28 species of vegetations was used as feed by Anoa on in situ area. According to its percentage, the first ten were Freycinetia insignis Blume (17%), Microlepia todayensis Christ (8.9%), Disoxylum sp (8.6%), Lasianthus clementis Merr (7.7%), Clusia sp (7.5%), Schleria sp (6%), Podocarpus imbricatus (5.4%), Smilax leucophylla (5.1%), Elastostema sp (4.2%), and Garcinia sp (3.8%), respectively. Furthermore, it can be concluded that Anoa was eat more leafs and shrubs/bushes (each 24%, respectively) compared to flowers (18%), fruits (12%), shoots (8%), grasses, tubers, young grooves (each 4%, respectively) and moss (2%). Nutritionally, Anoa consumed 8.8% protein and 25.6% crude fiber. Keywords: Diet Composition, Dung Analysis, Ano