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Banteng (Bos javanicus)

Banteng cattle (Bos javanicus) are listed as an animal on the declared pest list. Feral banteng are established in northern Australia and can affect vegetation and compete for resources with other animals.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, mammal.

Native to: Southeast Asia.

Established in: NT.

Other names: Bali cattle.

Identification

  • Banteng are cattle-like animals with a sturdy body and a shoulder hump.
  • Adult males are typically dark brown to black, while females are generally reddish brown.
  • Both sexes have horns, and the coat has a distinctive pale rump patch and pale lower legs.
  • Males are generally larger and heavier than females.
  • Look-alike: Feral domestic cattle can look similar, but banteng typically have a pale rump patch and pale lower legs; adult male banteng are usually dark while females are reddish brown.

Where it lives

In Australia, feral banteng occur on the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory, in tropical savanna landscapes.

Why it matters

  • As large grazers, banteng consume vegetation and can trample ground.
  • They may compete with native herbivores and livestock for food and water.
  • The extent of their ecological effects in Australia is not well documented.

How it spreads

  • The Australian population originated from introduced animals in northern Australia in the 19th century.
  • Feral animals can increase in number through breeding and move through suitable habitat.

Control methods

  • Use approved humane control methods, carried out by trained operators and in accordance with permits and animal-welfare requirements.
  • Ground or aerial shooting may be used where authorised and appropriate.
  • Report suspected banteng outside known areas to the relevant state or territory biosecurity agency.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Before moving between sites, remove mud and manure from boots, tyres and machinery used in areas occupied by banteng.
  • Avoid carrying soil or fodder from an occupied site to another property.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: General biosecurity duty. Not prohibited matter in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Controlled pest animal. It is a controlled pest animal in Victoria, so it can only be kept in high security collections under permit. Report any sighting to Agriculture Victoria.
  • South Australia: Declared animal. Declared animals have legal restrictions, which can cover keeping, moving, selling and releasing them, and landowners may be required to control them.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1). C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD.
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Not a declared pest. Not on an NT declared or prohibited list. Check with the NT Government before keeping, moving or releasing it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Northern Territory: Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (NT), administered by NT Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

Sources