Recently, the Nilgiris Forest Division in Tamil Nadu witnessed its first population estimation exercise of the Indian Gaur or Bison, with valuable assistance from the World Wide Fund for Nature India. The estimated population is approximately 2,000 Indian Gaurs across the division.
Habitat Loss and Increased Human Interaction
The evaluation revealed a significant portion of the gaur population resides perilously close to human habitations. This close vicinity arises from loss and fragmentation of their natural habitats, hence increasing the likelihood of problematic interactions with humans. An easy availability of food and absence of threats from predators in teahouses and human settlements have additionally attracted these animals.
Impact of Invasive Species and Changing Land-use Patterns
Further degradation of the Gaur’s natural habitat has occurred due to the invasion of foreign plant species in reserve forests. Also, altering land-use trends have resulted in more fences being erected, obstructing the traditional routes used by the gaurs for inter-habitat movement. This problem is particularly dominant in areas where tea estates are being converted into resorts and buildings.
Contrarily, human interaction in regions outside the Nilgiri Forest Division remains comparatively low as the native forests continue to be largely devoid of invasive plants. Here, the land-use pattern remains relatively stable, supporting sizable populations of gaurs.
Profile: The Indian Gaur or Bison
The Indian Gaur (Bos gaurus) stands as the largest and tallest member of the wild cattle family. It’s primarily a grazing animal. Their survival, however, is threatened by food scarcity, resulting from the destruction of grasslands which forms their main food source. Encroachment by commercially important trees and competition with domestic animals for grazing lands are other contributing factors. Illegal poaching for their commercial value and high demand for gaur meat in the black market, particularly along the India-Nepal border, poses another significant threat.
Conservation Efforts
The Indian Gaur is currently listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. Efforts to protect this species are well underway in several prominent national parks, such as Nagarhole, Bandipur, Kabini, and Masinagudi (Mudumalai).
World Wide Fund for Nature India
The World Wide Fund for Nature India, established on November 27, 1969, is now a leading conservation organization in India. It rebranded itself from the World Wildlife Fund in 1987. The science-based organization addresses issues related to the conservation of species and their habitats, climate change, water, and environmental education. Their mission is to halt the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and promote a future where humans live harmoniously with nature. This is achieved through conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of renewable resources, and reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.