Bos gaurus
The Gaur (also called Indian bison, or Seladang) is the largest species of
wild cattle, bigger than the African buffalo and the wild water buffalo. It
lives in forests of South Asia and Southeast Asia.
In areas where gaur have not been disturbed, they are mainly diurnal, but where
they have been disturbed by humans, gaur have become largely nocturnal. They
live in herds led by an old adult female, and unattached adult males may wander
alone in search of receptive females.
Because of its size, very few animals can attack gaur. Only saltwater crocodiles
and tigers have been known to be able to kill a healthy adult gaur. On the other
hand, there are several cases of tigers that have been killed by gaur. Gaur are
not aggressive toward humans.
The above picture was taken at the Zoo of Berlin, Germany, in August 2010.
Genus Bos
Subfamily Bovinae
Family Bovidae
Order Artiodactyla
Subclass Eutheria
Class Mammalia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
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