Species in news: Indian Gaur

Species in news: Indian Gaur

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biodiversity

In news

• Indian Bison was in news recently.
• It was seen in Pune’s urban landscape which led to its capture and consequently died due to injury.
• The sad news of its death has put the spotlight on human-Gaur conflict in the country.

Important value addition

Indian Gaur

• Scientific Name: Bos Gaurus.
• It is one of the largest extant bovines. 
• It is one of the largest species among the wild cattle.
• Habitat: Gaurs are found on the forested hills and grassy areas of South to South-East Asia.
• They are found in India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
• The Western Ghats in southern India constitute one of the most extensive extant strongholds of gaur, in particular in the Wayanad – Nagarhole – Mudumalai – Bandipur complex.
• The gaur is the State Animal of Goa and Bihar.

• IUCN status: Vulnerable 
• The Indian Government has included it in the Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
• It is listed in CITES Appendix I.