Gaur  (Bos gaurus)

Although Indian populations of the gaur have remained fairly stable in recent years, elsewhere the species has shown a worrying decline, especially in Indochina (1). Hunting, particularly for the horns, remains a serious threat to survival and is particularly pertinent when coupled with the widespread habitat loss that is sweeping through much of Asia (1). In addition, gaurs are at risk from diseases that are transmitted by domestic cattle, such as rinderpest and foot-and-mouth (1).

The gaur is protected in all of the countries within which it occurs, international trade is also banned by the listing of this species on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (1). Gaurs are found in a number of protected reserves such as the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal and a large captive population exists (1). With careful monitoring of population trends and the protection of remaining habitat, the future of these formidable cattle is relatively stable at present.