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Gaur
The gaur is the largest living bovid, a massive bovine that dwarfs all other wild cattle species in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Standing up to 2 meters tall at the shoulder and weighing as much as 1,500 kilograms, this animal commands the forest floor with a presence that is both imposing and majestic. Its physical structure is a marvel of evolutionary engineering, featuring a high convex ridge on the forehead that creates a deep hollow in the profile of the upper head, and a prominent ridge running from the shoulders to the middle of the back. This ridge is caused by the great length of the spinous processes of the vertebrae in the fore-part of the trunk, giving the gaur a hump that can be as much as 30 centimeters higher than the rump. The coat of an adult male is dark brown, approaching black in very old individuals, while the upper part of the head from above the eyes to the nape of the neck is ashy grey or occasionally dirty white. The lower legs are pure white or tan, and the tail is shorter than in typical oxen, reaching only to the hocks. Despite its immense size, the gaur is surprisingly agile, capable of crashing into the jungle at surprising speeds when alarmed. The horns, which grow from the sides of the head, curve upwards and are bent inward and slightly backward at their tips. They are pale green or yellow throughout the greater part of their length, with black tips, and can grow to a length of 1 meter. The gaur's sheer size and power make it a formidable opponent, even to the apex predators of its habitat.
Shadows of Extinction
Once roaming freely throughout mainland South and Southeast Asia, the gaur now exists in seriously fragmented populations, with its range having shrunk dramatically over the last century. Historically, the species occurred in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China, but today it is regionally extinct in Peninsular Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The global population was estimated at a maximum of 21,000 mature individuals in 2016, with the majority of those existing in India. In Laos, surveys carried out a decade after the mid-1990s using fairly intensive camera trapping did not record any gaur any more, indicating a massive decline of the population. In Cambodia, the population declined considerably in the period from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, and by 2020, encounter rates in Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary were low with 0-5 individuals sighted in long transects. In Vietnam, the current status of the gaur population is poorly known, and it may be in serious decline. In Thailand, fewer than 1,000 individuals were estimated to have remained in the 1990s, and in the mostly semi-evergreen Dong Phaya Yen Mountains, it was recorded at low density at the turn of the century, with an estimated total of about 150 individuals. The gaur is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986, and in 2016, it was estimated that the global population has declined by more than 70% in Indochina and Malaysia during the last three generations of 24-30 years. The habitat and distribution of the gaur and saltwater crocodile seldom overlap in recent times, due to the decreasing range of both species, further complicating conservation efforts.
What is the largest living bovid species in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia?
The gaur is the largest living bovid, a massive bovine that dwarfs all other wild cattle species in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It stands up to 2 meters tall at the shoulder and weighs as much as 1,500 kilograms. This animal commands the forest floor with a presence that is both imposing and majestic.
When was the first cloned gaur born and where did it happen?
On the 8th of January 2001, the first cloned gaur was born at Trans Ova Genetics in Sioux Center, Iowa. The calf was carried and brought successfully to term by a surrogate mother, a domestic cow. While healthy at birth, the calf died within 48 hours of a common dysentery, most likely unrelated to cloning.
Which countries have historically been home to the gaur species?
Historically, the gaur occurred in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China. Today it is regionally extinct in Peninsular Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The global population was estimated at a maximum of 21,000 mature individuals in 2016, with the majority of those existing in India.
What plants does the gaur eat during the summer season?
In summer, the gaur feeds on bark of teak, fruit of golden shower tree, and the bark and fruit of cashew. They may also turn to available browse species and fibrous teak bark when green grass and herbaceous resources dry up. High concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in teak bark help satisfy both mineral and other food needs.
Which predators are known to kill adult gaur?
Only tigers and saltwater crocodiles have been reported to kill adult gaur. Leopards, dhole packs and large mugger crocodiles occasionally attack unguarded calves or unhealthy animals. A crocodile likely would need to be a mature adult male of more than 3 meters and 500 kilograms to make a successful attack on a healthy adult gaur.
Gaur herds are led by an old adult female, the matriarch, who guides the group through the forest in search of food and water. In January and February, gaur live in small herds of eight to 11 individuals, one of which is a bull. In April or May, more bulls may join the herd for mating, and individual bulls may move from herd to herd, each mating with many cows. In May or June, they leave the herd and may form herds of bulls only or live alone. Herds wander 10 kilometers each day, and each herd has a nonexclusive home range, and sometimes herds may join in groups of 50 or more. Adult males may be solitary, and during the peak of the breeding season, unattached males wander widely in search of receptive females. No serious fighting between males has been recorded, with size being the major factor in determining dominance. Males make a mating call of clear, resonant tones which may carry for more than 1 kilometer. Gaur have also been known to make a whistling snort as an alarm call, and a low, cow-like moo. In some regions in India where human disturbance is minor, the gaur is very timid and shy despite its great size and power. When alarmed, gaur crash into the jungle at a surprising speed. However, in Southeast Asia and South India, where they are used to the presence of humans, gaur are said by locals to be very bold and aggressive. They are frequently known to go into fields and graze alongside domestic cattle, sometimes killing them in fights. Gaur bulls may charge without provocation, especially during summer, when the intense heat and parasitic insects make them more short-tempered than usual. To warn other members of its herd of approaching danger, the gaur lets out a high whistle for help.
The Diet of Giants
The gaur grazes and browses mostly the upper portions of plants, such as leaf blades, stems, seeds and flowers of grass species, including kadam Adina cordifolia. During a survey in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, gaurs were observed to feed on 32 species of plants. They consume herbs, young shoots, flowers, fruits of elephant apple (Dillenia) with a high preference for leaves. Food preference varies by season. In winter and monsoon, they feed on preferably fine and fresh true grasses and herb species of the legume family, such as tick clover (Desmodium triflorum), but also browse on leaves of shrub species such as karvy (Strobilanthes callosus), Indian boxwood (Gardenia latifolia), mallow-leaved crossberry (Grewia abutifolia), East-Indian screw tree (Helicteres) and the chaste tree (Vitex negundo). In summer, they also feed on bark of teak (Tectona grandis), on fruit of golden shower tree (Cassia fistula), and on the bark and fruit of cashew (Anacardium occidentale). Gaur spent most of their daily time feeding. Peak feeding activity was observed between 6:30 and 8:30 in the mornings and between 17:30 and 18:45 in the evenings. During the hottest hours of the day, they rest in the shade of big trees. They may debark trees due to shortages of preferred food, and of minerals and trace elements needed for their nutrition, or for maintaining an optimum fiber/protein ratio for proper digestion of food and better assimilation of nutrients. They may turn to available browse species and fibrous teak bark in summer as green grass and herbaceous resources dry up. High concentrations of calcium (22400 ppm) and phosphorus (400 ppm) have been reported in teak bark, so consumption of teak bark may help animals to satisfy both mineral and other food needs. Long-term survival and conservation of these herbivores depend on the availability of preferred plant species for food. Hence, protection of the historically preferred habitats used by gaur is a significant factor in conservation biology.
Tigers and the Circle of Life
Due to its size and power, the gaur has few natural predators besides humans. Leopards, dhole packs and large mugger crocodiles occasionally attack unguarded calves or unhealthy animals. Only tigers and saltwater crocodiles have been reported to kill adult gaur. However, the habitat and distribution of the gaur and saltwater crocodile seldom overlap in recent times, due to the decreasing range of both species. A crocodile likely would need to be a mature adult male of more than 3 meters and 500 kilograms to make a successful attack on a healthy adult gaur. Tigers hunt young or infirm gaur, but have also been reported to have killed healthy bulls weighing at least 400 kilograms. When confronted by a tiger, the adult members of a gaur herd often form a circle surrounding the vulnerable young and calves, shielding them from the big cat. As tigers rely on ambush attacks when taking on prey as large as a gaur, they will almost always abandon a hunt if detected and met in this manner. A herd of gaur in Malaysia encircled a calf killed by a tiger and prevented it from approaching the carcass. Nevertheless, the gaur is a formidable opponent to the tiger and capable of killing tigers in self-defence. This dynamic relationship between the gaur and the tiger is a testament to the gaur's strength and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. The gaur's ability to defend itself and its herd against such a powerful predator is a crucial aspect of its survival strategy.
The Clone and the Calf
On the 8th of January 2001, the first cloned gaur was born at Trans Ova Genetics in Sioux Center, Iowa. The calf was carried and brought successfully to term by a surrogate mother, a domestic cow (Bos taurus). While healthy at birth, the calf died within 48 hours of a common dysentery, most likely unrelated to cloning. This event marked a significant milestone in the conservation of the gaur, as it demonstrated the potential for using biotechnology to preserve the species. The gaur is listed in CITES Appendix I, and is legally protected in all range states. The domesticated gayal or mithun originated partly from the wild gaur and is most common in the border regions of Northeast India (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland) and Bangladesh with Myanmar and Yunnan, China. The gaur's genetic diversity is crucial for its survival, and the cloning of the gaur has opened new avenues for conservation efforts. The gaur's ability to adapt to different environments and its complex social structure make it a fascinating subject for scientific study. The gaur's conservation status is a reminder of the challenges facing wildlife in the modern world, and the need for continued efforts to protect and preserve the species.