Suspected albinism among Toda buffalo population prompts call for documentation of disappearing breed
Researchers are calling for systematic documentation of the endangered Toda buffalo population in the Nilgiris following a rare observation of albinism in a calf. The breed's population has dropped significantly over the last 150 years, raising concerns about genetic diversity and the impact of inbreeding.
Why it matters
Preserving the genetic diversity of this endemic breed is crucial for the cultural heritage of the Toda tribe and for broader biodiversity conservation efforts.
A suspected case of albinism in a Toda buffalo calf has renewed calls from researchers for systematic documentation of the declining breed of water buffalo endemic to The Nilgiris.
The “unusual phenotype” was observed in a Toda buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) individual, a breed of domestic water buffalo that is endangered and endemic to the Nilgiris.
“It is closely associated with the Toda tribe, whose traditional pastoral lifestyle revolves around buffalo husbandry. The breed is uniquely adapted to high-altitude montane grasslands and is characterised by distinctive morphological features, including a compact body, chevron markings, and crescent-shaped horns,” said researchers in their paper, “A rare white coat pigmentation anomaly record of Toda buffalo calf from The Nilgiri plateau”, which was published in an open-access scientific publication.
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