buruan

Buruan is an Indonesian noun meaning prey or quarry—the animal or creature pursued by predators or hunters. In hunting contexts, buruan refers to the target of pursuit, and the term can also be used more broadly in figurative expressions to denote something actively sought after, such as in stories or competitive situations.

Etymology and related terms: Buruan is derived from the verb berburu, meaning to hunt, with the nominalizing suffix -an that marks the object of pursuit. Related terms include perburuan, referring to the act or season of hunting, and berburu itself.

Usage and context: In wildlife management and legal frameworks in Indonesia, whether an animal is considered a buruan can influence whether hunting is allowed, since many species are protected or regulated by quotas and seasonal rules. In everyday language, buruan is commonly used to describe the prey in a hunting narrative or to denote the object of pursuit in a competition or chase. The concept also informs discussions about predator–prey dynamics, hunting pressure, and conservation efforts where the status of a species as buruan intersects with ecological and ethical considerations. See also related terms such as berburu, perburuan, and discussions of wildlife conservation.