Carabaos are a genetically distinct population of swamp-type water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis kerebau) from the Philippines. They descended from domesticated swamp buffalo populations from Taiwan that were introduced to the Philippines in the Neolithic via the Austronesian expansion. They were subsequently introduced to Sulawesi and Borneo of eastern Indonesia and Malaysia.
Domesticated carabaos are kept as draft animals, for their milk, and for the meat, which is called "carabeef" in the Philippines.