Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Common name(s)
Gaur, Indian Bison, Bon Goru, Gour
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Species authority
Smith, 1827
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
IUCN considers the wild species of Gaur under Bos gaurus, while referring to the domestic form (Mythun, Mithan or Gayal) as Bos frontalis. Traditionally, three subspecies of Gaur have been recognized: Bos gaurus gaurus in India, Nepal, and Bhutan; B. g. r
Bos gour Hardwicke, 1827; Bos cavifrons Hodgson, 1837; Bos subhemachalus Hodgson, 1837; Bos gaur Sundevall, 1846; Bos asseel Horsfield, 1851; Bubalibos annamiticus Heude, 1901; Gauribos laosiensis Heude, 1901; Gauribos sylvanus Heude, 1901; Uribos platyce
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Bangladesh
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Critically Endangered
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
The Gaur used to be considered as an extinct species in Bangladesh (IUCN 2000), but few years ago the confirmed presence of two small resident populations in Kassalong RF (forests of Vulongtoli Mon and Betling), Rangamati, was reported (Khan 2013, S. Chakma pers. comm.). Moreover, Gaurs are rarely sighted in Sangu WS and few other bordering forests in Bandarban, but it is not yet sure whether they represent any resident population or vagrant individuals (Khan 2013).
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Hoq Mahbub Morshed, M. Monirul H. Khan
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iv + 32pp; IUCN (2012) Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
http://iucnredlistbd.org/
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
It is native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia), Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam, and regionally extinct in Sri Lanka (Duckworth et al. 2008). The confirmed presence of two small resident populations of Gaur is in Kassalong RF (forests of Vulongtoli Mon and Betling), Rangamati (Khan 2013, S. Chakma pers. comm.). Moreover, Gaurs are rarely sighted in Sangu WS and few other bordering forests in Bandarban.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes, in the publication/on website
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Gaur occurs mainly in evergreen, mixed evergreen and moist deciduous forests, but also occurs in dry deciduous forests and forest peripheries. It is nocturnal but also diurnal in undisturbed areas. It lives in groups of few to nearly 50 Gaurs. Gaur is basically a grazer but would browse on bamboo leaves, reeds and shrubs. It depends on water for drinking, but does not normally bathe or wallow. Males make mating call during the mating season (Asmat 2009, Duckworth et al. 2008).
History
Extinct in Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh 2000).
Publication
IUCN Bangladesh. 2015. Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp. xvi+232
