Tuesday, June 19, 2012

W/ABC Wednesday


W is for Water Buffalo

Popularly known as carabao or kalabaw (Tagalog), Bubalus bubalis carabanesis is a subspecies of the domesticated water buffalo.  It is one of the most important animals in the Philippines, especially in agriculture, being the farm animal of choice for pulling both a plow and the cart used to haul produce to the market.  For a Filipino farmer, a kalabaw is a faithful partner in life.

The water buffalo is indigenous to Southeast Asia.  Silent and docile, it is strong and a hard-worker.  Without sweat glands, it cools itself by lying in a waterhole or mud during the heat of the day.  Both male and female have massive horns, adults weigh 700 to 800 kilograms.

siesta

Until a few years ago, I didn't know there was a white [albino] water buffalo.  The gray/black species is commonly used in farming.  A friend told me that the albino is easily sunburned that they're not used in the fields but as a source of milk.  

It looks like the albino, indeed, has a much easier life.:p

beast of burden
A parade of hundreds of water buffalo in the streets of Pulilan town in Bulacan is held every 14th and 15th of May in honor of the town's patron saint, San Isidro Labrador.  You can see photos here

In the early 90's, the government established the Philippine Carabao Center.  It was created to conserve, propagate and promote the Philippine carabao as a source of draft animal power, meat, milk and hide.  Also to enable small farmers to avail themselves of a good quality carabao; encourage backyard dairy development in rural areas to reduce dependence on imported milk by-products; and increase the annual population growth of Philippine carabaos.

mother and child cooling off

Posted for Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday


9 comments:

Carver said...

Wonderful shots of the water buffalo and interesting information. Carver, ABC-Wed. Team

Photo Cache said...

I miss the kalabaw when I left the country. I didn't know there are albinos either. I seem to like them too.

Carol said...

Great W post and enjoyed the info. The water buffalo looks very large...

Roger Owen Green said...

I understand that most species have albinos, but I'd never seen a white water buffalo either.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Hazel said...

Reminds me of Pinky, my very own albino buffalo, a summer gift from the Lolo who owned so many carabaos... long time ago (chuckling at the memory).

Chubskulit Rose said...

I used to ride in carabao growing up hehehe, nakakamiss.

PS.. The entry I have in one of my blogs is not white pepper but eggplant hehehe..

White Eggplant
Rose, ABC Wednesday!

Dave Pascht said...

wow!! buffalo.. i want to see like that again..

Nani said...

nice shots...

Joy said...

I love the siesta photo, what a life mud and relaxation:-) Water Buffalo are nice looking animals