Key Facts about Indian Gaur

About Indian Gaur:

• The Indian Bison of Gaur is the largest and tallest in the family of wild cattle.
• Scientific Name: Bos gaurus
• Distribution: Gaurs are indigenous to the South and Southeast parts of Asia.
• Habitat:
  • Gaurs are primarily the denizens of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests along with moist deciduous forests with open grasslands.
  • They prefer hilly-terrains below an altitude of 1,500-1,800 m with large and undisturbed forest tracts and abundant water.
• Features:
  • The Indian Bison is about 240 cm to 340 cm in length, with a sole tail length of about 70 cm to 105 cm. Their height is about 170 cm to 230 cm. 
  • The adult male weighs around 600 kg to 1500 kg. and the adult female weighs about 400 kg to 1000 kg.
  • They have a convex shape on the forehead.
  • The limbs are very strong and sturdy.
  • Both males and females possess horns. The horns are pale green or yellowish brown in color and are not pointed upward but possess a slightly inward curvature.
  • They have a typically short tail.
  • The Gaur is a social animal. They generally live in group size of about 30 to 40. 
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I 
  • It is listed in CITES Appendix I.

Key Facts about Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR):

• Location: It is located in the Nallamala hill ranges (an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats) of Andhra Pradesh and spreads across the undivided districts of Guntur, Prakasam and Kurnool.
• It attained the status of a Tiger Reserve in 1983. 
• This is the largest tiger reserve in the country, spreading over an area of 5937 Sq. Km.
• It is named after two major dams in the area, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam.
• Two wildlife Sanctuaries, namely Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM), constitute the Tiger Reserve.
• The river Krishna traverses through this Reserve for a linear distance of around 270 Kilometers.
• Topography: It consists of plateau, ridges, gorges and deep valleys.
• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests having an undergrowth of bamboo and grass.
• Flora: The habitat has several endemics like Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var, Dicliptera beddomei and Premna hamiltonii.
• Fauna:
  • Top faunal species include Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Wild Dog and Jackal.
  • The prey species are represented by Sambar, Chital, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Mouse Deer, Wild boar and Porcupine.
  • The river Krishna has Muggers, Otters and Turtles.

Q1: What is a Tiger Reserve?

Tiger Reserve is a legally declared protected area dedicated to the conservation of striped big cats. A tiger reserve, on the other hand, could be a national park or wildlife sanctuary. The Sariska Tiger Reserve, for example, is also a national park.

Source: Gaur sighted in NSTR after decades