Amphibian Mammals from Panggang Lake

Kerbau rawa, they are live in lake as habitat.

I am reminded of anecdotes of old stories about doctors, messages to patients who have high cholesterol. "you can only eat meat that his animal from water, all animals on land should not be eaten" said the doctor. After a long time, this patient check to the doctor and the result, cholesterol remains high. Then the doctor asked "are eat meat ..?", "buffalo doc buffalo" answered the patient. Buffalo, a short evolution of terrestrial animals that as be an animal or spend time on land and water.

During this time buffalo figures are pets commonly used to plow the fields. In Toraja, buffalo or called tedong is a very expensive pets, because the designation for traditional ceremonies. In the Kudus-Central Java area, buffaloes are usually consumed as meat. The people there do not eat beef, because they were Hindus who later changed to Islam, but still hold the culture of their ancestors. Buffalo became one of the status symbols, even a zodiac in Chinese calendar which refers to people who are stubborn, hardworking, honest, and somewhat irritable.

Kerbau rawa going to panggang lake.

Buffalo buffalo is one of the unique buffalo. This buffalo spent most of his time in the swamp by swimming to find food. In general, buffaloes have the scientific name of Bubalus bubalis. Specifically buffaloes are divided into 3 ie wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis arnee), buffalo river (Bubalus bubalis bubalis) and buffalo marsh (Bubalus bubalis carabauesis).

Map of Panggangf Lake at Sout Borneo-Indonesia.

Swamp buffaloes are present in several places in Indonesia, one of them in Panggang Lake-South Kalimantan (Borneo). The buffaloes are originally wild animals that are domesticated to domestic animals and evolve with changes in their behavior. The habitat change from terrestrial to aquatics makes the buffalo has the ability to swim. Buffalo buffalo is one of them that has undergone this evolution because of differences in habitat from the mainland into the waters.

At 02.30 my phone rang, it was a call from my colleague to get ready. Immediately I woke up a senior photographer from Kompas, Om Arbain I called him to get ready. I am still grappling with camera equipment, but he lives wearing shoes only because 2 cameras are attached to his waist. At 3 AM we left for Amuntai.

From Tanjung in Tabalong district of South Kalimantan we head to Lake Panggang at Amuntai, Hulu Sunga Utara Regency. Normal journey can be reached 2 hours drive with a 4-wheeled vehicle. A little strange, why at 03.00 had departed, because we do not want to miss the precious moment that the sun rises in the middle of the swamp as well as want to see buffalo buffaloes are still in the cage and when released in the swamp by the handler.

Situation at Panggang lake harbour in the morning.

At 05.00 we arrived at Panggang Lake. While waiting for the speed boat we saw the morning crowd at this wharf as the workers were lowering the load of swamp plants used as raw materials for mats and handicrafts. At this pier is one of the business centers and mobility of residents who live in the mainland and in the swamp (floating house).

The sun seems still reluctant to show itself. From a distance, a tiny speed boat had split a small stream and left a wave line that shook the great little jukung (canoe) and tossed the floating toilets. Speed ​​boat capacity 6 people immediately we ride, because do not be preceded by herders who took off the buffalo and off also moments to be caught.

Panggang like bridge.

With a speed of nearly 50 km / h speed boat sail the lake. The right side of the speed boat road appears to be floating houses belonging to residents who choose to live on water. The water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) meets the surface of the lake similar to floating lawns. From a distance there was a faint horde of buffalo group crammed into the cage.

Buffalo cage.

Speed ​​boat docked in a cage. Not long ago, Pak Jawat appeared with his son came with his son by riding a jukung. With this Spartan Shepherd enter and walk on the sidelines of the buffalo is crammed. The sound of buffalo muffled sounded, whether they were hungry or eager to swim.

Keeper pulling the buffalo into lake.

The buffaloes goin to other side of Panggang lake.

The wooden door opened. Buffalo front row straight down to the lane then "byuurr" throw themselves in the lake and followed by the other buffalo-buffalo. The head of the buffalo and its horns appear to appear on the surface, while his body was submerged in water. They form a row, it seems that the front is the leader of the buffalo. They slowly swim towards the eastern side, which is said to be as far as 4 km to search for swamp grass.

Several times Mr. Jawat shouted while pointing a stick of bamboo to force the buffalo down into the water. These stubborn buffalo seem reluctant to come down to the water. Either they fear the cold or can not swim. Pak Jawat explained that all buffaloes can swim naturally, but their strength is different. Apparently the meaning of this lazy buffalo is a buffalo that is still a child.

The buffaloes swimming in the Panggang Lake.

Pak Jawat has not finished yet, there are still buffaloes that have not been issued ie they are placed in a special cage. These are buffaloes that are still pregnant, so they must be on their own. It looks like the buffalo also has special treatment. This pregnant buffalo will be put on the back rear so as not to tire.

The keeper directing the buffalo.

For buffaloes less than 6 months old, there is a special cage for them. Playground or kindergarten,  for the buffalo that has not been out this horn. This cage is a cage that is not too deep to train buffalo swimming and accustomed in the water all day. For buffalo food, will be brought by his handler. Children of this buffalo all day will practice to swim strongly before later released with adult buffalo.

4 hours of this swamp buffalo will swim to where to find food. They were given 3 hours to eat as much, and after that 4 hours drive home to the stable. Almost 11 hours of this buffalo is in the waters, and before dusk is back to the Cage. Interestingly, this buffalo troupe is not lost and they are not wrong cages.

Buffalo or other types of animals have a navigation capability called ecolocation. They are able to recognize their environment that will guide their journey toward their destination and return to their place of origin. This instinct is honed naturally because of repeated customs. Ecolocation greatly benefits the shepherd, as they need not bother to be the guide to lead them. The guide is only in charge of opening the door, forcing the buffalo down into the water, making sure no one is scattered, then to the buffalo feeding location, and will close the cage door when all the buffalo have entered in the cage.

One buffalo cage will be blocked into 4 blogs and each will be filled 20 tails. In one cage there will be 80 - 100 buffaloe. Swamp buffaloes have the same characteristics, in contrast to the cows that can be distinguished by its stripes. To mark the ownership of the buffalo, the owner or his keeper will signal the buffalo. Signs will be made by cutting the earlobe with a certain pattern that becomes the typical characteristic of buffalo ownership. Can be imagined in Lake Panggang there are 150 cages with a total of about 1,500 buffalo tail and all the buffalo down in the same place. Amazingly buffalo herds already memorized signs in the buffalo ear is owned by whom.

Ear cutting as sign the buffalo owners. 

Swamp buffaloes are a phenomenon of the unfamiliarity of terrestrial mammals that have been adapted to the aquatic environment. This uniqueness can be a magnet for those who are curious while enjoying the beauty of lake Panggang. Make sure come early in the morning while enjoying the sunrise just before the handler removes this water mammal.