Hey! You are looking at the largest living cattle species, The Indian Gaurs. We are also called as Indian Bison. If you have seen the Indian movie, “Bahubali”, you would recognize us in a fight scene.
So, don’t come close to us, you might get hurt. We are not generally cool with strangers. While you watch us from the distance, have a look on important facts about us:
- We are the largest bovine species (species that include domestic cattle, bison, African buffalo, the water buffalo, the yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes) in the world.
- Since you might have seen a lot of cattle and seeing our shy and timid behavior, you might assess that we are calm. We are not, in fact, we are bold and aggressive towards strangers.
- We run very fast. Our top speed is 56kmph.
- No big predators like Lion or Tiger can dare to attack us as we can crush them with our strength and powerful horns.
- Do you know? Humans have actually tamed and domesticated in few areas of our range and we are called “Gayal” or “Mithun” there.
- We are very heavy animals and the largest of us can weigh more than 1500kg.
SOME QUICK NOTES:
Our Scientific Name: Bos Gaurus.
Identification: Large muscular cow-like animals with a large rump on the back and hairy patch on the forehead.
Our Habitat: Forests and hilly terrains
Our Range:
Food Habits: Herbivores, and feed on leaf blades, stems, seeds, herbs, young shoots, flowers, and fruits of elephant apple.
Breeding Period: any time of the year but peak in December and June.
Number of calves: 1
Gestation period: 275 days.
Sexual Maturity: 24-36 months
Lifespan: about 30 years in captivity, less in wild.
IUCN red list status: Vulnerable.
CITES: Appendix I
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Bos
Species: B. gaurus
COMPLETE DETAILS FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We are the largest living bovine ( species that includes domestic cattle, bison, African buffalo, the water buffalo, the yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes) in the world. We are also called as the Indian Bison.
Indian Gaur are scientifically called as Bos Gaurus.
How We Look:
We are the tallest of wild cattle species and we are very strong and massively built with a head-to-body length of 250cm-330cm. Our average height is 188 cm in males and 168 cm in females. Male is about one-fourth larger and heavier than the female. Male weighs from 588 kg – 1500 kg whereas female weighs from 440 kg – 1000 kg.
A male gaur is dark brown in color and becomes black getting older whereas female(cow) and young calf are paler in color. Our muzzle(part of the animal that has nose, mouth, and jaw) is pale colored, and the lower part of the legs are pure white. Our horns are white in color with a blueish-black tip. These horns are medium-sized by large bovid standards and can grow to a length of 60 to 115 cm.
We have a high convex shaped ridge on the forehead between the horns. There is also a prominent ridge on the back which makes us look different from other cattle species. This ridge runs from shoulder to middle of the back. Our hooves are narrow, and the hair is short and glossy. Our ears are very large, and our tail is small measuring 70cm-105cm.
We Are Found In:
Like many cattle species, we prefer living in evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests that are undisturbed. We also live near human settlements. We are densely found where there is an availability of water and food sources like grass, bamboo, shrubs, and trees.
Historically we are found throughout South and Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and Nepal. Now the population density has declined, and we are completely extinct in Sri Lanka.
In India, we are found in the Western Ghats and their outflanking hills in southern India, particularly in the Wayanad – Nagarhole – Mudumalai – Bandipur complex.
What We Eat:
We are herbivores and spend most time eating. We graze and browse on a wider variety of plants than any other bovine species of India.
Usually, we go for the upper portions of plants, such as leaf blades, stems, seeds and flowers of grass species. We also consume herbs, young shoots, flowers, fruits of elephant apple. Interestingly, we choose different food in different season.
In winter and monsoon, we eat fine and fresh grasses and herb species of the legume family and shrub species.
In summer, we eat the bark of teak, fruits of golden shower tree and bark and fruits of cashew. We may eat the bark of trees more when preferred food is less available.
Our Reproduction:
Males of our species are solitary and roam alone. But in herds, we are led by an old adult female, the matriarch.
We mate any time in the year, but the peak is in December and June. Female gaur’s gestation period is about 275 days; a few days less than domestic cattle. The female gives birth to one calf (occasionally two).
Calves eat food other than its mother’s milk after seven to 12 months. These young mature sexually in 24-36 months. The lifespan of us, when taken care of in captivity, is up to 30 years.
More About Us:
Despite our huge size, wherever there is less human interference, we are very timid and shy. However, in South India and Southeast Asia, where we are accustomed to humans, we are bold and aggressive.
When alarmed, we can run at a surprisingly faster speed. Our top speed is 56kmph.
We are very short tempered, and charge without provocation in presence of intense heat and parasitic insects.
We have an ability to warn other members of our herd of approaching danger.
Due to our size and power, many big predators like humans, leopards, mugger crocodiles and dhole packs wouldn’t dare to attack us.
We have a formidable defence strategy to protect our young by forming a circle around our young protecting it from predators.
Our Conservation:
We have been listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List since 1986 and In India; we are listed as schedule I of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and also listed in CITES Appendix I.
There is more than 70% of the population decline in parts of our range in the last three generations but, in well-protected areas, it is stable. The populations in India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh are estimated to comprise 23,000–34,000 individuals.
