Gaur (Bos gaurus): Asia’s Largest Wild Bovine

The gaur (Bos gaurus) is the largest wild bovine in the world. It is also known as the Indian bison and belongs to the group of Asian wild cattle. Today, there are about 13,000 – 30,000 left, with most living in India, but smaller groups survive in Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, they can still be seen in Cat Tien National Park. The gaur is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to hunting and habitat loss.

Features and Characteristics of Gaur

The gaur, or Indian bison, is the largest wild bovine alive today. Adult bulls stand 1.6 – 2 meters at the shoulder and can weigh up to 1700 kilograms. Cows are smaller, usually 450 – 800 kilograms, making males about a quarter heavier. A gaur’s shoulder can be up to 12 cm higher than its rump.

Their body looks powerful and massive. Bulls have dark brown to almost black coats, while cows and young calves are lighter. In dry and open areas, they sometimes have a rufous tinge or reddish shade coat. Mature bulls often have rusty-colored hair on the inner thighs and forelegs. The hair is short, fine, and glossy, though in older bulls, the coat on the back becomes sparse. Along the back runs a distinct dorsal ridge, formed by elongated vertebral spines, stretching from the shoulders to the mid-back.

A herd of wild gaurs grazing in the lush green grassland.

The head is broad with a raised ridge on the forehead between the horns, curving slightly forward. Their ears are very large. The tail is relatively short, just reaching the hocks, shorter than in domestic oxen. Their hooves are narrow and pointed. One of the most striking gaur characteristics is its white “stockings” on the lower legs. These can be pure white or light tan. Calves are born without them, and only after about 3 months do the stockings appear clearly.

Both sexes carry upward-curving horns that can reach 85 cm long. The horns are pale yellow or greenish at the base, turning black at the tips. At the base, the cross-section is elliptical, more pronounced in bulls. Bulls have larger horns with thick, rugged bases, and in old males, the roots are often dented, dull olive, or even frayed at the tips. Cows, by contrast, have slimmer, more upright horns with a stronger inward curve, and their frontal ridge is barely visible.

The gaur is one of the biggest land animals. In height, it ranks third, only behind the giraffe and the elephant. It even stands taller than all five species of rhino. In weight, the gaur comes in fifth place on land. Only elephants, the white rhino, the Indian rhino, and the hippopotamus are heavier.

Distribution and Habitat

Global Range

In the past, gaurs lived across South and Southeast Asia. Today, they are found in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia (Peninsular), Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. They are extinct in Sri Lanka and almost certainly gone from Bangladesh.

The population is now highly fragmented. The global estimate is between 13,000 and 30,000 animals, with another source suggesting 15,000 to 35,000. About 85% live in India. Numbers are falling, with declines of over 70% in Indochina, Myanmar, and Malaysia in the last three generations.

Gaur in Vietnam

In Vietnam, the gaur is among the most endangered large mammals. Numbers continue to drop sharply. They are found along the border with Laos and Cambodia, with key areas including Cat Tien National Park, Ea So Nature Reserve, and Yok Don National Park. In 1998, Vietnam’s gaur population was about 500 animals. Today, there are only 30–50 in the northwest and fewer than 300 in the Central Highlands.

Across Vietnam and Cambodia, gaurs' habitats are evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous forests. They also appear in dry deciduous and thorn forests on the edges of their range.

They often use grassy openings within closed forests. The best gaur habitats are large, undisturbed forests in hilly terrain below 1,500 – 1,800 meters, with reliable water and plenty of food like grasses, bamboo, shrubs, and trees.

Gaur in Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien is one of the few places in Southeast Asia where gaur populations are stable or even recovering. Between 2004 and 2007, surveys recorded 11 herds with 86 animals, averaging about 8 per herd. Currently, about 120 gaurs are recorded in Cat Tien National Park. This stability makes Cat Tien an exception in the region. The park has ideal gaur habitats, including evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, wetlands, seasonal grasslands, and bamboo stands, all providing rich feeding grounds.

Large herds of gaur have been seen near Nui Tuong and Bau Sau ranger stations. In Cat Loc, a mountainous section of the park, gaur are found in Bau Trau–Bau Dak Lo, Hang Doi, Suoi Sinh, and forest sector 503. These areas have waterholes and grassland for grazing, along with tall, dense trees for shelter.

A group of adult gaurs standing alert at the forest edge during daylight.

Subspecies of Gaur

In the past, scientists divided the gaur into three subspecies. This old system was based on differences in size and coat color. They were Bos gaurus gaurus in India and Nepal, Bos gaurus readei in Myanmar, Indochina, and southern China, and Bos gaurus hubbacki in southern Thailand and Malaysia.

This system, known as the trifid arrangement, was once widely used but is no longer accepted today. The names still appear in older records.

Later studies suggested a simpler division, and today the IUCN provisionally accepts only two gaur subspecies. Below are the main groups and their features.

Bos gaurus gaurus – The Indian Gaur

This gaur subspecies is found in India and Nepal. Today, it is seen as the main South Asian form. Gaurs in India are usually smaller than their Southeast Asian relatives. They also have longer nasal bones, a wider horn span, and a broader occiput at the back of the skull. Their horns are generally set wider apart. This makes them look slightly different in the head shape compared to gaurs from the east.

Bos gaurus laosiensis – The Southeast Asian Gaur

This subspecies lives in Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia, and probably also in southern China. It represents the main Southeast Asian form of the gaur. The gaurs in Cat Tien National Park belongs to the subspicies Bos gaurus laosiensis.

Gaurs in Southeast Asia are larger overall. They have shorter nasal bones, a narrower horn span, and a narrower occiput. The ascending branch of the premaxilla in the skull usually does not reach the nasal bone. These features set them apart clearly from the Indian gaur.

Samples from Bhutan, northern Myanmar, and Bangladesh are considered intermediate, but most look closer to the Southeast Asian type.

A solitary wild gaur moving quietly through dense forest vegetation.

Bos gaurus frontalis

The domesticated gaur is known as the Mithun or Gayal. Its scientific name is Bos frontalis. The IUCN considers it a separate species, not just a gaur subspecies. Mithun are kept in parts of India, Myanmar, and China, both in semi-wild and domestic form. Genetic studies suggest that wild gaurs were the maternal ancestors of this domesticated type.

Behavior and Diet

Gaurs are both grazers and browsers. They feed mostly on fresh green grasses, but gaur's diet also includes leaves, fruits, young shoots, bark, dry grasses, and bamboo. Their feeding shows two clear peaks, one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon. Studies recorded peak activity around 6:30 – 8:30 and 17:30 – 18:45. Grass makes up the largest share of the gaur's diet, often more than 80% in the dry season. They are also known to use abandoned fields, open glades, and even burnt grasslands where new grass grows.

Gaurs are highly social animals. They live in herds, and group size is flexible. The basic unit is often a female with her young. Larger herds form when smaller groups come together. Most herds number 5 to 12 animals. Herds are usually led by an older female, the matriarch. Adult bulls may live alone or in all-male groups, joining females mainly during the rut. In India, herds move about 3 to 5 km a day in search of food.

Their daily rhythm depends on human presence. In undisturbed forests, gaurs are mostly diurnal, active during the day. In areas with heavy disturbance, they turn nocturnal, mostly active at night.

A herd of wild gaurs grazing peacefully near the forest edge.

Predators

Because of their size and strength, adult gaurs have very few natural enemies. The tiger and the saltwater crocodile are the only predators able to kill a healthy adult. Tigers usually target calves or weaker individuals, but they have also been recorded killing bulls weighing over 1,000 kg. Gaurs are one of the most important prey species for tigers, making up about 40 – 45% of their diet in some reserves. Other predators include the saltwater crocodile, leopard, and the dhole (Asiatic wild dog). They occasionally attack unprotected calves or sick animals.

When facing danger, adult gaurs behavior is form a circle around calves and weaker members. This defense is very effective against ambush predators like tigers. In Nagarahole, India, a herd advanced together in a phalanx-like formation toward a stalking tiger, forcing it to retreat. In Malaysia, a herd even guarded the carcass of a calf, blocking a tiger from returning to feed.

Gaurs communicate danger with a sharp, high-pitched whistle, a snorting alarm call, and sometimes a low mooing sound. When alarmed, they can crash into the forest with surprising speed. Their temper varies: in some places, they are shy, but in parts of Southeast Asia and Southern India, they are known to be bold and even aggressive, sometimes charging without provocation, especially in the hot season.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The longevity of the gaur can be about 25 – 30 years in the wild. In captivity, a gaur's lifespan is even longer. Gaurs breed at different times depending on where they live. Gaur in central India can be seen rutting from December to June. Yet calves are born throughout the year, which shows that mating can happen in any month. In Cambodia, most calves are born in December and January, while in Myanmar, births are spread across the year.

The gestation period lasts about 9 months, or 275 days. This is slightly shorter than in banteng or domestic cattle. Females reach sexual maturity at around 2 years old and usually give birth for the first time at 3 years old. If food is plentiful, they can produce a calf every year. Still, because calves often stay with their mothers for 2 years, many females do not breed again until the 3rd year after giving birth.

Each pregnancy results in 1 calf. There are no reliable reports of twins. Before giving birth, the cow often separates from the herd. She stays with her newborn for a few days before rejoining the group. Calves can stand and move within minutes after birth.

Calves nurse for 5 to 8 months and are usually weaned between 7 and 12 months. During this stage, the herd plays an important role in protection. Adults often form a circle around the young, shielding them from predators.

Even with such care, calf survival is low. In central India’s Kanha National Park, about 50% of the calves die before 1 year old, mostly due to tiger predation. Tigers select calves and weaker gaurs as prey, making them the main cause of juvenile mortality.

Conservation and Threats

The gaur (Bos gaurus) is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. It has carried this status since 1986. The species is also included in CITES Appendix I, which bans international trade. In India, gaurs are legally protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Today, the global gaur population is estimated at 13,000 – 30,000 individuals, with about 5,200 – 18,000 adults. Overall, the species has declined by at least 30% globally and is expected to keep falling.

Main Threats

The biggest threat of gaur is hunting and illegal trade. In Southeast Asia, gaurs are targeted for their meat and horns, which are sold for decoration and traditional medicine. Organized poaching has caused severe declines in Malaysia, while in Vietnam, trophy hunting and snare traps remain common. India has stricter protection, but hunting still reduces density, and some populations have already vanished locally.

Another major issue facing the endangered gaur is habitat loss. Expanding farms, roads, and mining projects cut forests into fragments and make gaurs more vulnerable. Human disturbance pushes them into night activity, and crop-raiding (corn, cassava, young rubber) often leads to conflict with farmers.

In India, competition with domestic cattle is one of the main limiting factors. Cattle grazing lowers gaur density drastically and spreads diseases like rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, and anthrax. Gaurs are among the wild animals most affected by livestock diseases. Some forests are also degraded by invasive plants such as Lantana and Chromolaena.

Climate change is not yet the strongest threat, but it adds extra pressure. Studies in Nepal show a slow loss of suitable habitat over time, which could worsen fragmentation in the future.

Conservation Actions

In India, gaur benefit from strong protection in tiger and elephant reserves. Rinderpest has been eradicated, and livestock vaccination programs reduce disease risks. Community relocation from forest interiors has also helped lower poaching and competition.

In Southeast Asia, gaur conservation is harder but not impossible. Positive examples for Gaur protected areas include Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam), Siema and Srepok in Cambodia, and Huai Kha Khaeng and Thung Yai in Thailand, where anti-poaching measures have stabilized or even grown populations.

Future efforts need to focus on the gaur in Southeast Asia, where declines are steepest. Priorities include controlling hunting, managing livestock competition, and protecting key strongholds like Cat Tien. More long-term research is needed on population size, distribution, threats, and habitat needs, since most current data comes from short surveys.

Meeting the Gaur in the Wild

Cat Tien National Park is one of the few places in Southeast Asia where gaur herds remain stable or are even recovering. Two large herds with 17 and 24 gaurs were found near Nui Tuong and Bau Sau ranger stations. Gaurs usually do not attack humans unless disturbed or blocked, so you should be careful to avoid provoking them. Here are some safety tips when meeting gaurs in Cat Tien National Park:

• The gaur is the largest wild bovine, weighing up to 1,000 kg or more. In Southeast Asia, they are bold and sometimes aggressive. So always stay alert and avoid blocking their path, as they tend to attack anyone who stands in their way.
• Always keep a minimum distance of 300 m. Bulls, especially during the rut, can charge without warning. Avoid sudden or loud movements that could alarm the herd.
• Do not smoke or make unusual noises. Gaurs are sensitive to human disturbance, and in areas with heavy activity, they often become nocturnal.
• Avoid using the camera or phone flash, especially in the early morning (6:00 – 10:00) and late afternoon when they are most active. Sudden light can stress the herd and provoke defensive gaur behavior.

Katien Safari is currently working closely with the Cat Tien National Park Management Board to develop a monitoring and protection system for the wild gaur population. We are also exploring small-group safari tours, giving visitors a chance to see these rare animals in their natural habitat in the near future.

The project aims to promote responsible eco-tourism, where visitors can enjoy nature while learning about and supporting wildlife conservation.

Interesting Facts about Gaur

• Another gaur subspecies, Bos gaurus sinhaleyus, once lived in Sri Lanka. It disappeared in historic times and is now extinct.
• Gaur often share their territory with deer, and birds, which also help warn them of danger.
• Gaurs account for 40 – 45% of tigers’ diet, less than 10% of the leopard’s diet, and less than 12% of the dhole’s diet, depending on the location.
• Gaur habitats rarely overlap with saltwater crocodiles today, and only very large old males could successfully attack them.
• In Vietnam, a rare herd of hybrid gaur is being cared for at Phuoc Binh National Park, Ninh Thuan. Experts say natural crossbreeding between gaur and domestic cattle is very uncommon worldwide.
• The bulls seen in Spanish bullfighting on TV, called Toro Bravo, are domestic cattle bred and trained for fights, not true wild gaurs.
• In the cultural aspect, the gaur serves as the mascot of the Indian Army’s 54th Infantry Division, also known as the Bison Division.