The Sumatran serow (សត្វកែះ) has a long very history in many Cambodian people’s beliefs when it comes to wound healing. Growing up, the only times I heard people talking a serow was about the animal’s ability to heal wounds. People always say that if a serow breaks its legs, it can just lick the injury and it will walk normally after. There is more to the Sumatran serows aka Southern serow than just the myth, so let’s take a look below.
Appearance
A Sumatran serow looks like a cross-breed between an antelope and a goat when it comes to body shape. The fur of the animal is dark gray to black in adults and more grayish in juveniles. Older individuals have a scruffy mane of long hair that can be black, buff, grayish, or reddish. Its horns are short, curved back, and pointy, and it has relatively large ears. This forest goat has large olfactory glands that benefit the animal with an acute sense of smell.
Feeding & Habitats
Sumatran serows are herbivores so they feed on fruits and grasses that they can find on the ground. This mountain goat species is native to China, the Himalayas, and some countries in Southeast Asia. Southern serows inhabit steep forested slopes where they roam alone near cliffs and browse a variety of nutrient-rich vegetation. They usually forage for food early in the morning and early evening, and rest in thick bushes during the day.
Predators & Threats
Serows are predated by tigers as well as leopards whom they share the same habitats with. The thing is that natural predations do not affect their population the way human activities do. Sumatran serows are considered Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List now due to habitat loss and hunting. It is one of the most hunted animals for traditional medicines and other uses. In Cambodia, people believe that its blood or other parts have special healing power for many diseases and pain. I used to buy a balm that claimed to be made from the animal’s oil but I gave it to my mom. Did it work? I don’t know because both my parents knew I was scammed.
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