Recently, after many years, the previously locally extinct Indian gaur has been observed in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh.
About the Indian Gaur: General Information:
- Common Name: Indian Bison or Gaur
- Scientific Name: Bos gaurus
- Distribution: Native to South and Southeast Asia
Habitat:
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- The Indian gaur primarily inhabits evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, as
well as moist deciduous forests with open grasslands.
- The Indian gaur primarily inhabits evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, as
- They thrive in hilly terrains below an altitude of 1,500-1,800 meters, requiring
extensive and undisturbed forest areas with abundant water sources.
Physical Characteristics:
- Size: Length ranges from 240 cm to 340 cm, with a tail length of 70 cm to 105 cm. Height ranges from 170 cm to 230 cm.
- Weight: Adult males weigh between 600 kg to 1500 kg, while females weigh between 400 kg to 1000 kg.
- Appearance: The gaur has a convex-shaped forehead, strong and sturdy limbs, and both genders have horns that are pale green
or yellowish brown with a slight inward curvature. - Behavior: Gaurs are social animals, typically living in groups of 30 to 40 individuals.
Conservation Status:
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Key Information about Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR):
Location:
- Situated in the Nallamala hill ranges, an extension of the Eastern Ghats, within the state of Andhra Pradesh.
- Spans across the districts of Guntur, Prakasam, and Kurnool.
Status and Area:
- Designated as a Tiger Reserve in 1983.
- The largest tiger reserve in India, covering an area of 5,937 square kilometers.
Notable Features:
- Named after the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam.
- Includes Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM).
River:
- The Krishna River flows through the reserve for approximately 270 kilometers.
Topography and Vegetation:
- The landscape consists of plateaus, ridges, gorges, and deep valleys.
- Dominated by tropical dry deciduous forests with bamboo and grass undergrowth.
Flora:
- Home to several endemic plant species such as Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var,
Dicliptera beddomei, and Premna hamiltonii.
Fauna:
- Major wildlife includes Tigers, Leopards, Wolves, Wild Dogs, and Jackals.
- Prey species include Sambar, Chital, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Mouse Deer, Wild boar, and Porcupine.