Bos gaurus

Bos gaurus
Bos gaurus one of several species of wild cattle, belonging to the group of wild oxen. In total there are 9 species and 21 subspecies of wild oxen in the world, belonging to four genera.

These is include the Asiatic buffalo, African buffalo, true cattle and bison. The ancestors of wild oxen are known to have evolved in Asia some 20 million years ago.

The gaur, commonly referred as the Indian bison, belongs to the subfamily Bovidae of the order Artiodactyla and is the largest living bovine, confined to the Oriental biogeographic region.

Bos gaurus gaurus (India and Nepal), Bos gaurus readei (Myanmar and Indochina) and Bos gaurus hubbacki (Thailand south of the isthmus of Kra and West Malaysia) are the three commonly recognized subspecies of gaur.

Bos gaurus bull weigh 600-1000 kg and stand 1.6 to 1.9 m at the shoulder, whereas the cows are about 10 cm shorter and weigh about one fourth less than the males.

One of the most striking features of the gaur is the muscular ridge upon its shoulder, which slope down to the middle of the back, ending in an abrupt dip.

This is often referred to as the dorsal ridge and is the result of the extension of the dorsal vertebrae. Both sexes have horns. In the males the horns are especially larger at the base, with more outward swath and curvature at the tips is less.

There is a high, bulging forehead ridge between the horns.

Once common throughout South and Southeast Asia, gaurs now survive only in scattered remnant herds of up to 30 animals in the hill forests of India, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea, Vietnam and the Malay Peninsula.

Historically, the largest concentration have coexisted with farmers in areas of shifting cultivation. The animals adjust to disturbed land, and they also adapt to man’s presence if not unduly harassed.

For example gaurs will feed in agriculture fields, along roadsides and near occupied houses. Herds in national parks feed peacefully while tourists stand by. Gaurs in zoos also become quite tame and manageable.
Bos gaurus