BULLetin December 2018 | Number 1 18 Tamaraw Review Introducton Tamaraw The tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is a dwarf bufalo species, endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines (Heaney et al., 1987; Custodio et al., 1996; Cebrian et.al., 2014). The tamaraw probably diverged from the related wild water bufa- lo (Bubalus arnee) into a distnct insular bovine species during the Pleistocene, 1.5 million years ago (Tanaka et al., 1996; Schrieber et al., 1999). Although the tamaraw is currently the only wild catle species in the Philippines, some evidence sug- gests that wild Bubalus species may have had a wider distribu- ton prehistorically in the Philippines, although this needs to be critcally analysed (Beyer, 1957, Custodio et al., 1996, Crof et al., 2006). The tamaraw is listed as Critcally Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Boyles et al., 2016). There are only three distnct populatons known to survive today in Min- doro with a minimum estmate of 409 animals. However, 80% of individuals are presumed to be in only one subpopulaton, Review of tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) status and conservaton actons Barney Long 1 , Emmanuel Schütz 2* , James A. Burton 3 , Mike Appleton 1 , Rodel Boyles 4 , Josefna de Leon 5 , Grace Diamante 6 , Alvaro Gonzalez 2 , Jef Holland 7 , Caroline Lees 8 , Ellen Marandola 9 , Virtto C. Natural, Jr. 6 , Maria Teresita Pineda-David Jr. 10, Chrisma Salao 11 , James Slade 1 , Don Geof Tabaranza 6 , Elyza Hazel P. Tan 8 , Lito Tiongson 11 , Stuart Young 3,9 Abstract The tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is a Critcally Endangered wild bufalo species, found on Mindoro Island, Philippines. The number of locatons with confrmed tamaraw populaton has declined to three, and the general species range has contracted. However, the total estmated populaton size appears to be increasing. Therefore, there are some positve signs for this spe- cies, though the populaton dynamics need to be beter understood before this is verifed as a strong positve indicator for the species. This paper reviews the populaton status, threats, and opportunites for the future conservaton of tamaraw. This is presented in a historical and socio-economic context, following extensive research. In the coming months there will be a Mindoro Tamaraw Acton Planning Process that will develop a ten -year plan. This will include broad stakeholder engagement and a Populaton and Habitat Viability Assessment workshop (PHVA). This is the sec- ond PHVA process for the tamaraw, the frst being in 1996. It is hoped that this workshop will strengthen the already actve partnership and also catalyse all partners to increase their eforts and focus on the priority actons that need to be achieved most urgently. This paper highlights the need to look towards a meta -populaton approach, of protectng and securing mult- ple populatons of tamaraw, rather than focusing eforts on one populaton. This will increase the chances of conserving the species and its habitats in the long-term. Status Review 1 Global Wildlife Conservaton, Texas, USA 2 D'ABOVILLE Foundaton, Manila, Philippines 3 IUCN SSC Asian Wild Catle Specialist Group, Chester, UK 4 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), San Jose, Philippines 5 DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau, San Jose, Philippines 6 Mindoro Biodiversity Conservaton Foundaton Inc, Calapan City, Philippines 7 Center For Conservaton of Tropical Ungulates, Florida, USA 8 IUCN SSC Conservaton Planning Specialist Group, Minnesota, USA 9 Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, UK 10 DENR Tamaraw Conservaton Program, San Jose, Philippines 11 WWF-Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines *corresponding author: manuschutz.ph@gmail.com