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Gaur Pair in Sunset at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve

Wild gaur feeding or Indian bison, Feeding Baby Gaur

indian bison feeding grass in pampadum shola national park

Code: Mammals Life
Skills: Mammals of India

Project Description

The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a remarkable bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Tamil the Gaur is called Katu Maadu, meaning forest cow. Malayalam Kattu Pothu and in Kannada Kaati. The gaur, or mithun as it is commonly known in the North East region of India, is the state animal of Nagaland.

Size and Appearance:
- The gaur is the largest among wild cattle, with a shoulder height of 1.8 meters (6 feet) or more.
- It has a dark coat with white or tan lower legs, large ears, and strongly curved horns that curve inward and backward at the tip.
- A distinctive feature is the deep hollow region on its forehead.
Distribution and Habitat:
- Gaurs live in small herds within the mountain forests of India, Southeast Asia, and the Malay Peninsula.
- They are found in regions like the Vazhachal Forest and Parunthumpara Tea Plantation.
Conservation Status:
- The gaur has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986.
- The global population was estimated at a maximum of 21,000 mature individuals in 2016, with most existing in India.
Etymology:
- The Sanskrit word “gaura” means ‘white, yellowish, reddish.’
- In Hindi, “gaur” means 'fair-skinned, fair, white’.
Taxonomy:
- The gaur belongs to the genus Bos and is closely related to the banteng and the probably extinct kouprey.
- Three gaur subspecies have been recognized, but their classification based on coloration and size is no longer widely accepted.