In March, the Cabinet resolved to declare May 14 as a day to commemorate water buffalo conservation. The designation was made in consideration of the late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s comments about setting up the Cattle Bank on May 14 decades ago.

Kanchana Nittaya, who heads the Wildlife Conservation Office, presided over a meeting on how to conserve Thai buffaloes on Thursday.

She said that among measures for conservation was a plan to better care for the endemic species of wild water buffaloes, known as Bubalus bubalis.

“Bubalus bubalis are rare. Across the world, there are just a little more than 4,000 such animals,” she said.

Sixty-nine Bubalus bubalis have been found in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand’s Uthai Thani province, she said.

“We plan to take care of their health with efficient monitoring and surveillance for sustainable conservation,” Kanchana said.