What the sources say
GaurBos gaurus
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Gaur profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 55 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Duckworth et al. 2016
Duckworth et al. (2016). Bos gaurus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T2891A46363646.
- The page saysForests and grassy openings in scattered areas of South and Southeast Asia, from India to Peninsular Malaysia
- The source says
Currently it occurs in scattered areas in the following range states: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia only), Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Viet Nam
- The page saysForests and grassy openings
- The source says
the species was largely confined to evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous forest
Note: Habitat clause; grassy openings from the next quote - The page saysForests and grassy openings
- The source says
in closed canopy forests areas the species appears to frequent grassy openings
- The page saysGrasses, leaves, fruit, twigs, bark and bamboo
- The source says
reportedly eating mostly young green grasses but also leaves, fruit, twigs, and bark of various woody species, as well as coarse dry grasses, and bamboo
- The page saysVulnerable
- The source says
Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd ver 3.1 Year Published: 2016
Note: Status read from the as-published Red List page (Wayback copy); GBIF has no category for taxon 2891. - The page saysGaur once lived across mainland South and Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka
- The source says
Gaur historically occurred throughout mainland south and southeast Asia and Sri Lanka
- The page saysNow they survive in scattered areas of ten countries: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam
- The source says
Currently it occurs in scattered areas in the following range states: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia only), Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Viet Nam
- The page saysThey range from sea level to at least 2,800 m
- The source says
The Gaur occurs from sea level up to at least 2,800 m asl
- The page saysA gaur is both a grazer and a browser
- The source says
Gaur both grazes and browses
- The page saysIt reportedly eats mostly young green grasses, plus leaves, fruit, twigs, bark and bamboo
- The source says
reportedly eating mostly young green grasses but also leaves, fruit, twigs, and bark of various woody species, as well as coarse dry grasses, and bamboo
- The page saysCaptive gaur are reported to eat about 20 kg of green fodder a day
- The source says
Captive Gaur are reported to eat about 20 kg of green fodder per day
- The page saysIn undisturbed areas, gaur are mainly active by day
- The source says
In undisturbed areas, Gaur is mainly diurnal
- The page saysWhere human disturbance is high, they are reported to become mainly nocturnal
- The source says
in areas of high human disturbance, it is reported to become mainly nocturnal
- The page saysThe IUCN rated the gaur Vulnerable in 2016
- The source says
Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd ver 3.1 Year Published: 2016
- The page saysthe gaur's global distribution has shrunk by over 80% in the past 100 years
- The source says
The global distribution of the Gaur has reduced by over 80% in past 100 years
- The page saysit is now mostly limited to habitats within protected areas
- The source says
Gaur is now mostly limited to habitats within protected areas
- The page sayshunting for wild meat and for the horn trade in Southeast Asia, and habitat loss and hunting for meat in South Asia
- The source says
wild meat hunting and hunting for the trade in horns in Southeast Asia, habitat loss and hunting for meat in South Asia
- The page saysRinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease, passed on by domestic cattle, are a potentially serious danger across the gaur's range
- The source says
Throughout the range, diseases, particularly rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease, transmitted by domestic cattle are a potentially serious threat
- The page saysThe mithun, also called the gayal, is the domesticated form of the gaur, and the IUCN treats it as a separate species, Bos frontalis
- The source says
The domesticated form of Gaur, considered by IUCN a separate species ( Bos frontalis ; Mythun, Mithan or Gayal)
- The page saysThe gaur's Red List assessment leaves the domestic animal out
- The source says
This animal is excluded from the red-listing considerations for Gaur
- The page saysThe IUCN estimates 15,000 to 35,000 animals worldwide
- The source says
The global population is estimated to lie within 15,000-35,000 animals
- The page saysit calls most of the population figures for the gaur little more than guesses
- The source says
Most population figures given for numbers of Gaur are little more than guesses
- The page saysThe trend is decreasing
- The source says
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
- The page saysGrass, Leaves and Bark
- The source says
reportedly eating mostly young green grasses but also leaves, fruit, twigs, and bark of various woody species, as well as coarse dry grasses, and bamboo
- The page saysNight shift in disturbed areas
- The source says
in areas of high human disturbance, it is reported to become mainly nocturnal
- The page saysDisease is a potential threat too
- The source says
diseases, particularly rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease, transmitted by domestic cattle are a potentially serious threat
- The page saysNot quite
- The source says
The domesticated form of Gaur, considered by IUCN a separate species
Source
02
Ogilvie 1953
Ogilvie (1953). The Behaviour of Seladang (Bibos gaurus). Oryx.
- The page saysone warden wrote, are prepared to stand and fight a tiger rather than run
- The source says
they may fear tiger, and undoubtedly there are losses from the herd on the tiger's account, but they know their combined strength and are prepared to ... stand and fight rather than run
- The page saysHerds that, one warden wrote, stand and fight a tiger rather than run
- The source says
they may fear tiger, and undoubtedly there are losses from the herd on the tiger's account, but they know their combined strength and are prepared to ... stand and fight rather than run
- The page saysFaced with a tiger, a gaur herd may not scatter
- The source says
they may fear tiger, and undoubtedly there are losses from the herd on the tiger's account, but they know their combined strength and are prepared to ... stand and fight rather than run
- The page saysA game warden in Malaya wrote in 1953 that the gaur, which he called seladang, may fear a tiger, but they know their combined strength and are prepared to stand and fight rather than run
- The source says
Seladang under normal conditions fear man ... they may fear tiger, and undoubtedly there are losses from the herd on the tiger's account, but they know their combined strength and are prepared to ... stand and fight rather than run
Note: Author C. S. Ogilvie, Game Warden, Federation of Malaya (publisher page); title 'The Behaviour of Seladang (Bibos gaurus)' gives the name seladang for Bibos gaurus. - The page saysthe herd bunched up and moved forward toward the tiger's angry voice
- The source says
moved forward five or six paces in the direction of the tiger's angry voice. In doing so they had bunched
- The page saysUnder normal conditions, he wrote, gaur fear man, and the sight or sound of one is enough to set them running
- The source says
Seladang under normal conditions fear man, and either sound or sight of him is enough to set them on the run
- The page sayswrote in 1953
- The source says
Oryx , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , November 1953
- The page saysStanding Up to a Tiger
- The source says
they may fear tiger, and undoubtedly there are losses from the herd on the tiger's account, but they know their combined strength and are prepared to ... stand and fight rather than run
- The page saysPeople get a different reaction
- The source says
Seladang under normal conditions fear man, and either sound or sight of him is enough to set them on the run
- The page saysIn one encounter a game warden described, a gaur herd facing a tiger bunched up and moved forward
- The source says
moved forward five or six paces in the direction of the tiger's angry voice. In doing so they had bunched
Source
03
Ahrestani et al. 2011
Ahrestani et al. (2011). Contrasting timing of parturition of chital Axis axis and gaur Bos gaurus in tropical South India - the role of body mass and seasonal forage quality. Oikos.
- The page saysAn adult female weighs about 600 kg
- The source says
gaur Bos gaurus (adult female ∼ 600 kg)
- The page saysweightKg: 600
- The source says
gaur Bos gaurus (adult female ∼ 600 kg)
Note: task #1261; AnAge's 825 kg is filed under Bos frontalis, which may mix in the mithun. Both are Heavy.
Source
04
Ahrestani & Prins 2011
Ahrestani & Prins (2011). Age and sex determination of gaur Bos gaurus (Bovidae). Mammalia.
- The page saysmales top out at a shoulder height of 175 cm, and females at 147 cm
- The source says
maximum shoulder heights of 175 cm and 147 cm for males and females, respectively
- The page saysResearchers measured captive gaur in zoos in India and the USA
- The source says
We studied captive gaur for two years in Mysore Zoo, India and Omaha Zoo, USA
- The page saysthe more white on the horns, the older the animal
- The source says
the greater the amount of white on the horns of a gaur, the older it is
- The page saysThe same study found that a gaur's horns show its age
- The source says
the greater the amount of white on the horns of a gaur, the older it is
Source
05
Kamalakkannan et al. 2020
Kamalakkannan et al. (2020). The complete mitochondrial genome of Indian gaur, Bos gaurus and its phylogenetic implications. Scientific Reports.
- The page saysThe largest living wild cattle
- The source says
The gaur is the largest extant cattle species
- The page saysThe gaur is the largest living wild cattle species
- The source says
The gaur , Bos gaurus also known as “Indian bison” is the largest living wild cattle species
- The page saysAround 85% of them live in India
- The source says
Around 85% of its current global population resides in India
- The page saysWild Cattle, Built Big
- The source says
The gaur , Bos gaurus also known as “Indian bison” is the largest living wild cattle species
Source
06
Gad & Shyama 2009
Gad & Shyama (2009). Studies on the food and feeding habits of Gaur Bos gaurus H. Smith (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in two protected areas of Goa. Journal of Threatened Taxa.
- The page saysIn two reserves in Goa, 32 plant species made up the diet, with leaves the preferred food at 87%
- The source says
Altogether, 32 species of plants belonging to 17 families constitute the gaur diet. ... with a preference for leaves (87%)
Source
07
Lanza et al. 2000
Lanza et al. (2000). Cloning of an Endangered Species (Bos gaurus) Using Interspecies Nuclear Transfer.
- The page saysScientists once put cells from a gaur bull into emptied egg cells from domestic cows
- The source says
Somatic cells from a gaur bull (Bos gaurus) ... were electrofused with enucleated oocytes from domestic cows
- The page saysSome of the embryos grew inside surrogate cows, and two fetuses went past 180 and 200 days of gestation
- The source says
18% of these embryos developed to the fetal stage when transferred to surrogate mothers ... two continued gestation longer than 180 (ongoing) and 200 days, respectively
- The page saysTheir cell nuclei were gaur, but their mitochondrial DNA came from the cow's egg
- The source says
the nuclear genome of the cloned animals was gaurus in origin ... the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within all the tissue types evaluated was derived exclusively from the recipient bovine oocytes
Source
08
AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources
AnAge entry for Bos frontalis (Gaur). AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.
- The page saysputs the average adult gaur at 825 kg
- The source says
Life history traits (averages) ... Adult weight 825,000 g
Note: AnAge files the gaur as Bos frontalis (common name Gaur; synonym Bos gaurus); 825,000 g = 825 kg. - The page saysOne gaur in captivity lived 26.2 years
- The source says
One animal lived 26.2 years in captivity
Source
09
Shameer et al. 2025
Shameer et al. (2025). Ecological and temporal drivers of human-gaur conflict in Tamil Nadu, India. Discover Animals.
- The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
- The source says
Livestock depredation and human deaths represented 11.66% and 8.98%, respectively.
Note: task #1261; capability reading (#631): gaur conflicts in Tamil Nadu include human deaths. Hand-cached from link.springer.com via Chrome; the script fetch gets a JS shell. - The page saysIn Tamil Nadu's compensation records from 2016 to 2024, nearly a third of conflicts with gaur were human injuries, and about 9% were human deaths.
- The source says
This was followed by human injury, which comprised 30.70% of the total incidents. Livestock depredation and human deaths represented 11.66% and 8.98%, respectively.
Note: task #1261; the records are 'compensation records related to crop damage, human injury, and death across 48 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu between 2016 and 2024'; 30.70% is 'nearly a third', 8.98% 'about 9%'
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.