What are the two primary factors causing the decline of the Asiatic wild water buffalo (*Bubalus arnee*) populations?
Answer
Habitat loss and cross-breeding with domesticated buffalo.
The survival outlook for the wild *Bubalus arnee* is significantly threatened by two main human-related pressures. Firstly, conversion of their natural habitats, specifically grasslands, for agricultural expansion and general human use severely reduces their viable territory. Secondly, there is the issue of genetic pollution; when wild buffalo breed with the much more numerous domesticated populations, the unique gene pool of the wild species becomes diluted. Protecting the remaining wild herds is essential for preserving the genetic diversity that ultimately supports the hardiness of the entire water buffalo lineage against future environmental challenges or diseases.
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