Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Gaur
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== Distribution and habitat == [[File:Bos gaurus.jpg|thumb|A gaur herd at a [[mineral lick]] in Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka]] [[File:Indian Bison Gobo.jpg|thumb|A male gaur grazing in the grasslands of Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura]] [[File:Gaur bull, Satpura TR, 16th Feb 2016, AJT Johnsingh. P1010342.jpg|thumb|A gaur in [[Satpura National Park]], Madhya Pradesh]] The gaur historically occurred throughout mainland South and Southeast Asia, including [[Nepal]], [[India]], [[Bhutan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], [[Laos]], [[Cambodia]], [[Vietnam]] and [[China]]. Today, its range is seriously fragmented, and it is regionally extinct in [[Peninsular Malaysia]] and [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name=iucn /> It is largely confined to [[evergreen forest]]s or semi-evergreen and moist [[deciduous forest]]s, but also inhabits deciduous forest areas at the periphery. Gaur habitat is characterized by large, relatively undisturbed forest tracts, hilly terrain below an elevation of {{cvt|1500|to|1800|m}}, availability of water, and an abundance of forage in the form of [[Poaceae|grasses]], [[bamboo]], shrubs, and trees. Its apparent preference for hilly terrain may be partly due to the earlier conversion of most of the plains and other low-lying areas to croplands and pastures.<ref name=Schaller /> It occurs from sea level to an elevation of at least {{cvt|2800|m}}. Low-lying areas seem to comprise optimal habitat.<ref name=Choudhury02>{{cite journal |author=Choudhury, A. |year=2002 |title=Distribution and conservation of the Gaur ''Bos gaurus'' in the Indian Subcontinent |journal=Mammal Review |volume=32 |issue= 3|pages=199β226 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2907.2002.00107.x}}</ref> In Nepal, the gaur population was estimated to be 250β350 in the mid-1990s, with the majority in [[Chitwan National Park]] and the adjacent [[Parsa National Park]]. These two parks are connected by a chain of forested hills. Population trends appeared to be relatively stable.<ref name=iucn /> The Chitwan population has increased from 188 to 368 animals in the years 1997 to 2016. Census conducted in Parsa National Park confirmed the presence of 112 gaur in the same period.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mausam|date=2016-06-11|title=Bison population increasing in CNP|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/bison-population-increasing-cnp|access-date=2023-02-06|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en}}</ref> In India, the population was estimated to be 12,000β22,000 in the mid-1990s. The [[Western Ghats]] and their outflanking hills in southern India constitute one of the most extensive extant strongholds of gaur, in particular in the [[Wayanad]] β [[Nagarhole National Park|Nagarhole]] β [[Mudumalai National Park|Mudumalai]] β [[Bandipur National Park|Bandipur]] complex.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ranjitsinh, M. K. |year=1997 |title=Beyond the Tiger: Portraits of Asian Wildlife |location=New Delhi |publisher=Birajbasi Printers}}</ref> The populations in India, Bhutan and Bangladesh are estimated to comprise 23,000β34,000 individuals.<ref name="Choudhury02" /> Major populations of about 2,000 individuals have been reported in both Nagarahole and Bandipur National Parks, over 1,000 individuals in [[Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project]], 500β1,000 individuals in both [[Periyar Tiger Reserve]] and [[Silent Valley National Park|Silent Valley]] and adjoining forest complexes, and over 800 individuals in [[Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary]].<ref name=iucn/> [[Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary]] in southern [[Tripura]] is home to a significant number of individuals.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter=Population density and conservation status of Indian Gaur (''Bos gaurus gaurus'') in Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura, Northeast India |date=2015 |doi=10.2174/9781681080215115010011 |title=Biodiversity Conservation β Challenges for the Future |pages=97β102 |author1=Mary, P.P. |author2=Debbarma, J. |author3=Kumar, A. |author4=Gupta, A.K. |publisher=Bentham Science Publishers |place=Thiruvananthapuram |isbn=9781681080215 |editor1=Laladhas, K. |editor2=Oommen V.O. |editor3=Sudhakaran P.R. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvn3DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA97}}</ref> In Bhutan, they apparently persist all over the southern foothill zone, notably in [[Royal Manas National Park]], [[Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary]] and [[Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary]].<ref name="Choudhury02" /> In Bangladesh, a few gaur occur in the [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]], mostly in Banderban district. During a camera trap project, few gaur were recorded indicating that the population is fragmented and probably declining.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/radical-conservation/2016/mar/01/tiger-country-scientists-uncover-wild-surprises-in-tribal-bangladesh |title=Tiger country? Scientists uncover wild surprises in tribal Bangladesh |last=Hance|first=J. |date=2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=2016-04-11}}</ref> Gaurs are hunted by local tribal people in [[Sangu Matamuhari]] reserve forest although hunting is prohibited in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Status and impact of traditional forest fauna harvesting by the Mro tribe in the hill forests of Bangladesh: Policy implications for biodiversity conservation|url=http://www.rufford.org/files/8744-1%20Detailed%20Final%20Report.pdf|last=Chowdhury|first=M. S. H.|publisher=The Rufford Foundation |year=2012 |location=London |pages=1β15|access-date=11 April 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220064645/http://www.rufford.org/files/8744-1%20Detailed%20Final%20Report.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Thailand, gaur were once found throughout the country, but fewer than 1,000 individuals were estimated to have remained in the 1990s. In the mostly semi-evergreen [[Dong Phaya Yen Mountains|Dong Phayayen β Khao Yai Forest Complex]], they were recorded at low density at the turn of the century, with an estimated total of about 150 individuals.<ref name="dkpy06">{{cite book |author=Lynam, A. J. |author2=Round, P. |author3=Brockelman, W. Y. |year=2006 |url=http://www.wcsthailand.org/main/downloads/dpky/DPKY_project.pdf |title=Status of birds and large mammals of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, Thailand |publisher=Biodiversity Research and Training Program and Wildlife Conservation Society |location=Bangkok, Thailand |access-date=27 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727070004/http://www.wcsthailand.org/main/downloads/dpky/DPKY_project.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In Vietnam, several areas in [[ΔαΊ―k LαΊ―k Province]] were known to contain gaur in 1997.<ref>{{cite book |author=Le Xuan Canh, Pham Trong Anh, Duckworth, J. W., Vu Ngoc Thanh, Lic Vuthy |year=1997 |title=A survey of large mammals in Dak Lak Province, Viet Nam |publisher=Unpublished report to IUCN and WWF |location=Hanoi, Viet Nam}}</ref> Several herds persist in [[CΓ‘t TiΓͺn National Park]] and in adjacent state forest enterprises.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Polet, G. |author2=Ling, S. |year=2004 |title=Protecting mammal diversity: opportunities and constraints for pragmatic conservation management in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam |journal=Oryx |volume= 38 |issue=2 |pages=186|doi=10.1017/S003060530400033X |doi-access=free}}</ref> The current status of the gaur population is poorly known; they may be in serious decline.<ref name=iucn /> In Cambodia, gaur declined considerably in the period from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. The most substantial population of the country remained in [[Mondulkiri Province]], where up to 1,000 individuals may have survived up to 2010 in a forested landscape of over {{cvt|15000|km2}}.<ref name="Tordoff">{{cite book |author=Tordoff, A. W. |author2=Timmins, R. J. |author3= Maxwell, A. |author4=Huy Keavuth |author5=Lic Vuthy |author6= Khou Eang Hourt |year=2005 |title=Biological assessment of the Lower Mekong Dry Forests Ecoregion |location=Phnom Penh, Cambodia |publisher=WWF Greater Mekong Programme}}</ref> Results of [[camera trap]]ping carried out in 2009 suggested a globally significant population of gaur in [[Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary]] and the contiguous [[Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary]],<ref>{{cite journal |author=Channa, P. |author2=Sovanna, P. |author3=Gray, T. N. E. |year=2010 |title=Recent camera trap records of globally threatened species from the Eastern Plains Landscape, Mondulkiri |journal=Cambodian Journal of Natural History |volume=2010 |issue=2 |pages=89β93 |url=http://www.fauna-flora.org/wp-content/uploads/CJNH-2010-December-2010-FINAL-low-res.pdf#page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719161937/http://www.fauna-flora.org/wp-content/uploads/CJNH-2010-December-2010-FINAL-low-res.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=live}}</ref> and line transect [[distance sampling]] from [[Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary]] showed around 500 individuals in 2010. Since then, there has been rapid decline of these populations, and likely all populations across Cambodia. Updated figures for Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary show a decline to only 33 individuals in 2020,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nuttall |first1=Matthew N. |last2=Griffin |first2=Olly |last3=Fewster |first3=Rachel M. |last4=McGowan |first4=Philip J. K. |last5=Abernethy |first5=Katharine |last6=O'Kelly |first6=Hannah |last7=Nut |first7=Menghor |last8=Sot |first8=Vandoeun |last9=Bunnefeld |first9=Nils |title=Long-term monitoring of wildlife populations for protected area management in Southeast Asia |journal=Conservation Science and Practice |date=February 2022 |volume=4 |issue=2 |doi=10.1111/csp2.614 |bibcode=2022ConSP...4E.614N |s2cid=245405123|doi-access=free |url=http://dspace.stir.ac.uk/bitstream/1893/33780/1/Nuttall-etal-CSP-2022.pdf}}</ref> and 2020 encounter rates in Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary were too low to analyze with [[distance sampling]].<ref>{{Cite report |last1=Groenenberg |first1=M. |first2=R. |last2=Crouthers |last3=K. |first3=Y. |title=Population Status of Ungulates in the Eastern Plains Landscape of Cambodia |date=2020 |publisher=? |place=? |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348534080}}</ref> In Laos, up to 200 individuals were estimated to inhabit protected area boundaries in the mid-1990s.<ref name=Timmins96>{{cite book |author=Timmins, R. J. |author2=Evans, T. D. |year=1996 |title=Wildlife and Habitat Survey of the Nakai-Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area, Khammouan and Bolikhamsai Provinces, Lao PDR |location=Vientiane, Lao PDR |publisher=A report to Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management, Department of Forestry |url=http://www.directoryofngos.org/project_publications/NAKAI%20NAM%20THEUN%20Surveys%201994-1995.pdf |access-date=27 March 2011 |archive-date=6 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706150727/https://www.directoryofngos.org/project_publications/NAKAI%2520NAM%2520THEUN%2520Surveys%25201994-1995.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> They were reported discontinuously distributed in low numbers. Overhunting had reduced the population, and survivors occurred mainly in remote sites. Fewer than six [[National Biodiversity Conservation Areas]] held more than 50 individuals. Areas with populations likely to be nationally important included the [[Nam Theun]] catchment and the adjoining plateau.<ref name=duckworth99>{{cite book |author=Duckworth, J. W. |author2=Salter, R. E. |author3=Khounboline, K. |year=1999 |title=Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report |location=Vientiane |publisher=IUCN β The World Conservation Union / Wildlife Conservation Society / Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management |url=http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/lao_wildlife_status_report_1999.pdf |access-date=27 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004230630/http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/lao_wildlife_status_report_1999.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Subsequent surveys carried out a decade later using fairly intensive camera trapping did not record any gaur any more, indicating a massive decline of the population.<ref name=iucn /> In China, the gaur was present up to the [[34th parallel north]] during the late [[Neolithic]] period about 5,200 years [[Before Present|BP]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Chen, N. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Ren, L. |author3=Du, L. |author4=Hou, J. |author5=Mullin, V. E. |author6=Wu, D. |author7=Zhang, X. |year=2020 |title=Ancient genomes reveal tropical bovid species in the Tibetan Plateau contributed to the prevalence of hunting game until the late Neolithic |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=117 |issue=45 |pages=28150β28159 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2011696117 |pmid=33077602 |pmc=7668038 |bibcode=2020PNAS..11728150C |doi-access=free}}</ref> Now it occurs only in heavily fragmented populations in [[Yunnan]] and southeastern [[Tibet]]. By the 1980s, it was extirpated in [[Lancang County]], and the remaining animals were split into two populations in [[Xishuangbanna]]β[[Simao District]] and [[Cangyuan]]. In the mid-1990s, a population of 600β800 individuals may have lived in Yunnan Province, with the majority occurring in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve.<ref name=iucn /> 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 24β30 years, and that the gaur is [[Local extinction|locally extinct]] in [[Sri Lanka]]. Populations in well-protected areas appeared to be stable.<ref name=iucn />
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)