Buffaloes in Indonesia Labeled as ‘SOS’, Facing Extinction by 2031

The population of buffaloes in Indonesia has plunged dramatically, with only half remaining from the previous millions. Siswono Yudo Husodo describes the situation as ‘SOS’, warning of possible extinction before 2031. Farmers are stuck in the cut and carry system, unable to compete with imported meat. Former Chairman of the Indonesian Agricultural Societies Association Siswono Yudo Husodo mentioned this dire situation as ‘SOS’ – an international term Save Our Souls signifying an emergency situation – and warned that if the trend is not halted, Indonesian buffaloes could become extinct by 2031. According to Siswono, the main issue lies not in nature or feed, but in the lack of interest from farmers in breeding, the process of planned livestock reproduction to maintain the population. ‘The interest of farmers in breeding is low. The population continues to drop, leading to larger imports,’ he stated in a recent discussion in Serang, Banten.