Mammal
Zebu
Bos indicusAlso known as Indicine Cattle, Humped Cattle, Brahman Cattle, Cebu
Zebu thrive across the world's hottest pastoral landscapes thanks to high densities of active sweat glands and a reflective, short-haired coat. Their signature shoulder hump stores energy-rich fat reserves, enabling survival through prolonged dry seasons and sparse forage. Domesticated in South Asia millennia ago, these resilient cattle form strong herd hierarchies and communicate with deep, low-frequency grunts rather than standard bovine moos.
DomesticatedHerbivoreHeat-Tolerant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPasture Grasses, Herbaceous Browse, Crop Residues
Predators
- Bengal Tiger
- Leopard
- Dhole
ThreatsTick-borne illnesses, severe drought, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsTropical savannas, grasslands, arid shrublands, and agricultural pastures
Life span15–20 years
Classification
- OrderArtiodactyla
- FamilyBovidae
- GenusBos
- SpeciesBos indicus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Bulls and protective mothers can charge, gore, or kick; observe from a safe perimeter.
- Why it is dangerous
- Large muscular bulk, powerful horns, and sharp hooves can cause crushing trauma or goring injuries during defensive charges.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for the prominent muscular hump above the shoulders, a pendulous dewlap under the neck, and large horns.
- What to do
- Never corner grazing animals, keep away from protective nursing cows, and give restless bulls plenty of open space.
Responsible observation
- Safe Distance: Maintain at least twenty meters of clearance, particularly around large bulls or cows with young calves.
- Body Language: Watch for broadside posturing, head shaking, or pawing dirt, which signal agitation.
- Herd Etiquette: Avoid walking directly through an unconfined herd to prevent triggering a stampede.
Close Relative (c) Paulius Rupšas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Paulius Rupšas · cc-by
Close Relative PJeganathan / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by
Close Relative Jim, the Photographer / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Same Family (c) Alex Stach, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Stach · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.