Important Facts For Prelims
Indian Bison (Gaur)
- 22 Aug 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
Recently, a case of poaching of Indian Bison was discovered using a sniffer dog in West Bengal.
Key Points
- Indian Bison or Gaur (Bos gaurus)
- Location: Native to South and Southeast Asia
- In India, they are found in Nagarhole, Bandipur, Masinagudi National Parks and BR Hills.
- Conservation Status:
- Vulnerable in IUCN Red List.
- Included in the Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
- Important Facts:
- It is the tallest species of wild cattle found in India and largest extant bovine.
- Recently, the first population estimation exercise of the Indian Gaur (Bison) was carried out in the Nilgiris Forest Division, Tamil Nadu.
- Recently, the conservation breeding of Gaur was started at Mysuru zoo under the conservation breeding programme of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
- Threats:
- Food Scarcity: Due to the destruction in the grasslands, planting of commercially important trees, invasive plant species and indiscriminate grazing of domestic animals
- Poaching: For their commercial value as well as due to the high demand of gaur meat.
- Habitat Loss: Due to deforestation and commercial plantations.
- Human-Animal Conflict: Due to living in proximity with human habitations.
- Location: Native to South and Southeast Asia
