Learn about Gaur

Image by Syed Ahmad, Unsplash

Introduction of Gaur

The Indian bison also referred to as the Gaur, is the largest species of wild cattle and the family Bovidae as a whole.
In Malaysia, the Gaur is also known as the Seladang, while in Myanmar, they are called the Pyaung.
The Malay Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and India are all home to the gaur.
The ideal habitat for gaurs is a forest that is either evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated gaurs as "Vulnerable."
At the end of the previous decade, the total population of gaurs was estimated between 21,000 to 24000, they have been declared extinct in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Nevertheless, India's population is growing at a steady rate in its more protected forests.

Gaurs generally reach approximately 2 metres (about 6 feet) tall and can weigh anything from 650 to 1,000 kg.
Male gaurs can be up to 11 to 12 ft in length, however, female gaurs are significantly smaller in size.
They have strong limbs, a massive head, and a muscular body.
In general, the colour of their bodies is either reddish, brown, or black.
The colour of their limbs is pale.
Their lower legs have white pigmentation that resembles white socks.
Both male and female gaurs are having curving horns that emerge from the sides of their heads and grow upward. Gaur's horns can grow as long as 45 inches.
The bases of the horns are yellow, while the tips are black.
The shoulders of male Gaurs are characterised by a prominent hump.
Gaurs are characterised by having blue eyes and a prominent fold of skin known as a dewlap that extends from their throats to their forelegs.

In the wild, gaurs typically live for between 25 and 30 years on average.
Male gaurs will typically mate with several different females within the herd.
In order to secure their mate, males frequently engage in combat with other male competitors. These fights sometimes end with casualties.
Gaur pregnancies typically last about nine months, following which the female Gaur gives birth to her young.
In most cases, they only have one child when they give birth.
The adult males are called bulls and the females are called a cow.
The term "calf" is used to refer to the young of a Gaur.
The calf is breastfed for around one year.
After reaching sexual maturity, young male gaurs separate from their herds, whereas young female gaurs remain with their mothers throughout their lives.

Gaurs are diurnal (active during sunlight) animals. However, because of the human disturbance, they are found more active during the night in buffer and jungle outskirts.
Because of their size and power, they have very few natural predators, like tigers and crocodiles, that can take them down.
There is recorded evidence of killing tigers by adult gaurs.
Although they are social animals, gaurs choose to live in small groups called herds.
In a typical herd, there are anywhere from 8 to 10 gaurs.
Matriarchy exists among herds of gaurs, and the gaur with the most life experience is considered to be the leader of the herd.
Gaurs are territorial animals, they need large grazing areas to maintain their body weight. However, male gaurs roam freely and ventured into other areas. This frequently resulted in a territorial fight.
Gaurs use a variety of vocalisations to communicate.
To alert the rest of the group of impending danger, the gaur uses a high-pitched growl.
During mating season, male gaurs create deep roaring calls.
Gaurs have a reputation for being aggressive.
The horns of a gaur can inflict fatal injuries. They often attack even without any provocations. Their agility and aggression make them dangerous for both humans and other animals.
There is an increasing trend of human gaur conflict on the outskirts of jungles and surrounding villages.

Gaurs are herbivores, meaning that grass, plants, leaves, and bushes make up the majority of their diet.
In addition to that, they eat stems, blossoms, and fruit.