# Gaur — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Bos gaurus (Hamilton, 1827)*

> The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a Vulnerable forest bovid — the largest wild cattle species, ranging from India through Malaysia; threatened by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and agricultural encroachment.

**IUCN status:** Vulnerable  ·  **WARN range:** India, Nepal, South-east Asia, Malaysia

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Weight | 600–1,000 kg (bulls); cows roughly half |
| Distinctive feature | White stockings on lower legs |
| Habitat | Tropical and subtropical forest clearings |
| Range | India to Malaysia and western Indonesia |
| Population | Roughly 21,000 mature individuals |
| CITES | Appendix I |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Bos
- **Species:** Bos gaurus (Hamilton, 1827)

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Vulnerable (IUCN, 2016). Roughly 21,000 mature individuals.
- **Population:** Roughly 21,000 mature individuals; ~15,000 in India
- **Trend:** Decreasing
- **Assessed:** 2016
- **CITES:** Appendix I
- Largest living wild bovid; Malaysia and Indonesia hold important South-east Asian populations.

## Key facts: Gaur
- Gaur are the largest living bovid — bulls can exceed 1,000 kg.
- White stockings on the lower legs distinguish gaurs from other Asian bovids.
- Gaurs inhabit forest clearings and woodland from India to Malaysia.
- Tiger predation on gaur calves and subadults is documented across India.
- Habitat loss and bushmeat hunting are the primary threats.
- Malaysia and Indonesia hold important South-east Asian gaur populations.

## The largest wild cattle
The gaur belongs to the genus Bos alongside cattle, wild yaks and banteng. Bos gaurus is the heaviest living wild bovid — bulls stand 1.7–2.2 m at the shoulder and weigh 600–1,000 kg. Cows are roughly half the size. The coat is dark brown to black; lower legs are white or pale, creating 'stocking' markings. Horns curve upward and inward, reaching 85 cm in large bulls.

Gaurs inhabit tropical and subtropical forest, woodland and bamboo thickets from India and Nepal through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and western Indonesia. They graze grasses in forest clearings and glades, browse leaves and shoots, and visit salt licks. Herds of 8–20 females and young are led by an older female; mature bulls are often solitary.

Domestic gayal or mithun — kept by indigenous communities in India and Myanmar — may descend from gaur domestication or hybridisation, though the relationship remains debated.

## Forest ecology and predator interactions
Gaurs are diurnal, foraging in early morning and late afternoon in forest openings. They avoid dense closed canopy where movement is restricted. Forest clearings maintained by elephants, fire and natural treefall create grazing habitat gaurs depend on.

Tigers prey on gaur calves and subadults — among the largest prey tigers regularly hunt. Documented kills of adult gaur by tigers occur but are uncommon. Dholes and leopards take calves. Gaurs defend young by forming protective circles with horns facing outward.

As large grazers and browsers, gaurs shape forest vegetation. Their grazing maintains grassland patches in forest; their browsing influences woody plant composition. Declining gaur populations alter forest ecology in reserves across India and South-east Asia.

## Threats across the range
Habitat loss is the primary threat. Forest clearance for agriculture, logging, rubber and oil palm plantations removes gaur habitat across South-east Asia. In India, mining and infrastructure development fragment forest reserves. Gaurs require large forest areas with access to clearings and water — fragmented landscapes cannot support viable herds.

Hunting for bushmeat and trophies persists across Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. Snares kill gaurs indiscriminately in Southeast Asian forests. In India, retaliatory killing after crop raiding occurs where forest meets farmland.

Disease from domestic cattle contact — including foot-and-mouth disease — can devastate gaur herds. Domestic livestock grazing inside protected areas brings disease risk and competition for forage.

## Conservation and protected areas
The IUCN lists gaur as Vulnerable with an estimated 21,000 mature individuals and a decreasing population trend. India holds the largest population — roughly 15,000 in the Western Ghats, central India and north-eastern forests. Kaziranga, Nagarahole and Bandipur national parks support significant herds.

South-east Asian populations are smaller and more fragmented. Malaysia's Taman Negara and Royal Belum State Park hold important herds. Indonesia's gaur populations on Sumatra and Java are severely reduced. CITES Appendix I bans commercial international trade.

Anti-poaching patrols, corridor protection between reserves and reducing livestock incursion into protected areas are priority actions. Community engagement in buffer zones reduces retaliatory killing and bushmeat demand.

## Related WARN forest guides
Gaurs share Malaysian and Indonesian rainforest with orangutans, tigers and clouded leopards — species central to WARN's partner conservation work. This gaur guide connects the largest Asian bovid to the forest ecosystems WARN protects in South-east Asia.

WARN's tiger and leopard guides cover the predators that hunt gaur calves. Banteng and wild water buffalo guides address other threatened Asian bovids in overlapping habitat.

Forest protection in Malaysia and Indonesia — gaur range countries — benefits gaurs alongside primates, hornbills and countless other forest species.

## What WARN does
WARN funds rainforest habitat protection in Malaysia and Indonesia where gaur share threatened forest with orangutans and tigers. This gaur guide is free public education about the largest wild cattle on Earth.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

## Frequently asked questions: Gaur
### What is the largest wild cattle species?
The gaur (Bos gaurus) is the largest living wild bovid. Bulls can exceed 1,000 kg and stand over 2 m at the shoulder — larger than African buffalo and American bison.

### Are gaurs the same as bison?
No. Gaurs are Asian forest bovids (Bos gaurus). American bison are a separate species (Bison bison). Both are large bovids but inhabit different continents and habitats.

### Do tigers hunt gaur?
Yes. Tigers prey on gaur calves and subadults across India. Adult gaur are among the largest prey tigers attempt, though kills of full-grown bulls are uncommon.

### Are gaurs endangered?
Gaurs are Vulnerable with roughly 21,000 mature individuals and a decreasing population trend. Habitat loss and bushmeat hunting are the main threats.

### Where do gaurs live?
Gaurs inhabit forest and woodland from India and Nepal through Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam to western Indonesia. India holds the largest population.

### What do gaurs eat?
Gaurs graze grasses in forest clearings and browse leaves, shoots and bark. They visit salt licks and require access to water and open forest glades.

## Sources
- [IUCN Red List — Bos gaurus](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2891/46373777)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — gaur](https://www.britannica.com/animal/guar)
- [Wildlife Institute of India — gaur](https://wii.gov.in/)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gaur