Cover photo: Gaur © Caleb Jones
Gaur
Bos gaurus
IUCN status: Vulnerable
Threats: Hunting for horns, habitat loss, disease spread from domestic cattle
Size: body mass: 440-1,000 kg; height at shoulder: 1.5-2.2 m; head and body length: 2.5-3.3 m
Gaur are the largest cattle species in the world and one of the largest living land mammals. Due to their impressive size, gaur have few natural predators; only tigers have been known to kill healthy adult animals. Gaur are found in forested areas across South and Southeast Asia, however their distribution has shrunk by over 80% in the last 100 years. The global population of gaur decreased by 90% in the last half of the 20th century.
Gaur are threatened across their range by habitat loss and hunting for meat and trophies, but successful anti-poaching and reforestation campaigns in Thailand have resulted in some increasing sub-populations. A domesticated form of the gaur – the gayal or mithun (Bos frontalis) – exists in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.
More information
IUCN Red List account
Threats: Hunting for horns, habitat loss, disease spread from domestic cattle
Size: body mass: 440-1,000 kg; height at shoulder: 1.5-2.2 m; head and body length: 2.5-3.3 m
Gaur are the largest cattle species in the world and one of the largest living land mammals. Due to their impressive size, gaur have few natural predators; only tigers have been known to kill healthy adult animals. Gaur are found in forested areas across South and Southeast Asia, however their distribution has shrunk by over 80% in the last 100 years. The global population of gaur decreased by 90% in the last half of the 20th century.
Gaur are threatened across their range by habitat loss and hunting for meat and trophies, but successful anti-poaching and reforestation campaigns in Thailand have resulted in some increasing sub-populations. A domesticated form of the gaur – the gayal or mithun (Bos frontalis) – exists in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.
More information
IUCN Red List account