This species of gaur looks like a buffalo from the front and like a cow from the back. (Photo: Pixabay).
Gaurs like to eat young leaves, young bamboo shoots, and new grass growing in fields or areas bordering forests. The Southeast Asian gaur is recognized by zoologists around the world as the largest species of wild cattle in the world. A full-grown bull can grow to over 2 metres tall and weigh up to 2 tonnes, making it larger than the Asian buffalo and the North American bison. At this size, the gaur is the third largest land animal in terms of height, after the giraffe and the elephant. It is the fifth largest land animal in terms of body mass: after the elephant, white rhinoceros, Indian rhinoceros and hippopotamus.
Southeast Asian gaurs usually breed in June and July. They give birth to one litter per year, one calf per litter. The gestation period of a gaur is about 270 days, and they give birth to one litter per year, one calf per litter. The habitat of gaurs is old-growth evergreen forests, dipterocarp forests, mixed bamboo forests, and secondary forests with relatively flat terrain at an altitude of 500 – 1500m above sea level.
The Southeast Asian gaur is recognized by zoologist experts around the world as the largest species of wild buffalo in the world. (Photo: Pixabay).
Southeast Asian gaurs have many valuable characteristics such as large stature and good resistance to harsh climatic conditions.…, is considered a rare genetic resource that needs to be preserved and can be developed for breeding purposes.
They have been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global population was estimated to be a maximum of 21,000 mature individuals in 2016. They have declined by more than 70% in the last three generations and are probably extinct in Sri Lanka and possibly Bangladesh. In well-protected areas, their numbers are stable and increasing.
They have been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. (Photo: Pixabay).
Currently, in Vietnam there are only about 300 gaurs left, distributed mainly in Muong Nhe National Park (Dien Bien), the Central Highlands mountainous areas, Chu Mom Ray National Park (Kon Tum) and Cat Tien National Park (Lam Dong), Phu Bai Airport (Hue). However, these gaur herds are facing a high risk of extinction due to deforestation and poaching of precious animals.
The number of this species of bull is decreasing due to two main reasons:
This species of gaur is facing a high risk of extinction due to poaching for its gallbladder. (Photo: VTC News).
According to VTC News, many people rumor that bull bile can help: strengthen yang, strengthen tendons and bones, replenish energy, good for men’s physiology and support the treatment of many incurable diseases… Bull bile is also said to have higher medicinal properties than king cobra bile or bear bile. However, in reality, experts have proven that bull bile is no different from buffalo or cow bile.
Furthermore, in the human body, bile is only secreted in a small amount, just enough to help digest daily food. If an amount of bile, regardless of the animal, is taken into the body higher than normal, there is a risk of poisoning. Not to mention that if you drink bile from a sick animal (infection, typhoid, disease caused by the Fasciola gigantica fluke parasitizing the liver and bile ducts), it is even more dangerous.
According to Fatherland
