Animal Facts
Scientific Name
Bos taurus
Range
Grasslands and savannah of sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi
Status in the Wild
Domestic (minor or rare breed)
Location in the Zoo
Across from Grant’s zebras
Cool Animal Fact
Their horns can grow to be over six feet long.
Remembering Lune Tune
If you ever spotted him in his habitat, you knew which one he was—the shy one with the beautifully symmetrical horns. He was part of a trio here for many years, and in the end, he was our last. He kept mostly to himself, but he had his people. He showed up for every training session and would take food right from his keepers’ hands. And if you were near his habitat early in the morning or late in the afternoon, you probably heard him. He got vocal when he thought his keepers were running late, which, for the record, they never were.
As he got older, his team built a health plan around him: joint supplements, a special diet, and the kind of steady, attentive care that comes from really knowing an animal.
Last winter, we had the chance to film a spotlight with Luni Tune and Keeper Cynthia. We’re glad we did.
He was our last Ankole cattle, and this place feels a little quieter without him. Learn more about Lune Tune and his story at Houston Zoo.
A heartfelt thank you to our hoofstock team for the dedicated care they gave Luni Tune every day of his 20 years here.
