Gaurs In Nilgiris: Importance of Conserving The Vulnerable Species
Gaur, or Indian Bison, are a close relative of domestic cattle and the largest wild cattle species in India. The animals have been listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 1986.
Supriya Sahu, an IAS officer, shared a clip of the magnificent animals walking through the tea gardens of Nilgiris. Known for sharing amazing wildlife videos, Sahu shared the video and observed, “Gaurs are found in three regions, south-western India, central India and north-eastern India (including Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh). They are classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN due to severe habitat loss.”
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The Gaur population is estimated to be around 13,000 to 30,000 individuals worldwide, with nearly 85 percent of the population present in India. According to Mongabay, the animals are found in abundance in the Wayanad-Mudumalai-Bandipur-Nagarhole range.
The large herbivores have been found outside the protected areas, with many gaurs taking Karnataka’s Nilgiris and Kodagu districts as their home.
Highlighting the need for conservation, Sahu stated, “Conservation efforts include habitat protection and creating awareness among local communities. These magnificent creatures play a crucial role in the ecosystems they inhabit, and conservation efforts are essential to ensure their survival.”
A big beautiful family of Gaurs graze around in a tea garden somewhere in Nilgiris. Gaurs are found in three regions, south‐western India, central India and north‐eastern India (including Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh). They are classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN due to severe… pic.twitter.com/kY6VQMnKfY
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) August 8, 2024
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A survey revealed that the majority of the species reside close to human settlements due to habitat loss and fragmentation. During an exercise conducted in February 2020, the Forest Department revealed that roughly 794 gaurs were directly spotted within a week.
With changing land-use patterns, the increasing human pressure has endangered the Gaurs’ natural habitats, thereby threatening their very existence.
