Marwell Zoo in Hampshire welcomes endangered Banteng calf called 'Pumpkin'

The new calf, born to mother Dewi and father Henky on Halloween, is a sister for Raya who was born at Marwell in November 2022.

Keepers chose to name her Pumpkin to reflect her birth date on the spookiest day of the year.

Alex Cam, Assistant Keeper, said: “We can now confirm the name of our newest female banteng calf - Pumpkin.

“Pumpkin and mum, Dewi, are doing well and Dewi is very attentive to her calf. Pumpkin is mixing in well with the rest of the herd and can often be seen enjoying their outside space when the weather is nice.”

The youngster has been seen frolicking with older members of the herd when they are out in their paddock and is keeping up with her sibling despite being the smallest by a considerable stretch.

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Banteng are one of the rarest cattle species in the world and would have historically been found in Asia, from southern China to northeast India, mainland Asia, Peninsular Malaysia and nearby islands.

The name Pumpkin is particularly fitting given the characteristic caramel-orange toned coats of female and juvenile banteng, which also sport white “socks”.

The males have darker coats of conker brown with a thick area of skin between an impressive set of horns that continue growing throughout their life and can reach 75cm in length.

The number of these cattle continues to decrease in the wild as a result of hunting and habitat loss and it is thought there are around 8,000 of these animals left in the wild.

Their distinctive horns are sought after by trophy hunters as well as for use in medicines and they have historically been hunted for meat.

There is evidence that banteng hunting continues across parts of its range and numbers are thought to have decreased by more than 50 per cent in the last 21 years.

Young suckle from their mothers for up to 16 months after which females remain with the herd and males leave at the age of two or three years old to join a bachelor group.

Conservation charity Marwell Wildlife owns and operates Marwell Zoo which covers 140 acres and includes play parks, eateries and rare animals.