An Ecological Survey of the Larger Mammals of Peninsular India

During the hottest periods of the day, B. gaurus often retreats to forested areas to chew cud, often done while lying down.

“During the hottest periods of the day, B. gaurus often retreats to forested areas to chew cud, often done while lying down (Forsyth 1889;Krishnan 1972; F. S. Ahrestani, in litt.).”

Leaves and shoots of bamboo are sought after by B. gaurus throughout its range.

“Leaves and shoots of bamboo, the world's largest grass species, are sought after by B. gaurus throughout its range:”

The 3 dominant bamboo species in southern India are all eaten by B. gaurus.

“the 3 dominant bamboo species in southern India (Bambusa arundinacea, Dendrocalamus strictus, and Oxytenanthera monostigma) are all eaten (Krishnan 1972; K. U. Karanth, pers.comm.),”

B. gaurus eating of shoots is generally associated with its foraging on bamboo.

“its eating of shoots is generally associated with its foraging on bamboo (Forsyth 1889;Krishnan 1972;Gad and Shyama 2011).”

Bos gaurus feeds primarily by extending its tongue to curl around leaves and twigs, which it pulls into its mouth and bites off with a tug.

“B. gaurus feeds primarily by extending its tongue to curl around leaves and twigs, which it pulls into its mouth and bites off with a tug (Schaller 1967;Krishnan 1972).”

Multiple studies have found B. gaurus feeding on fruits.

“Multiple studies have found B. gaurus feeding on fruits (Dunbar-Brander 1923;Schaller 1967;Krishnan 1972;Chetri 2003),”

In southern India, rinderpest killed hundreds of B. gaurus in the first half of the 20th century, all but wiped out B. gaurus from Mudumalai in 1968, and nearly wiped out the B. gaurus population in Bandipur in 1989.

“In southern India, rinderpest has been reported to have killed hundreds of B. gaurus in the 1st one-half of the 20th century (Anderson 1954), to have all but wiped out B. gaurus from Mudumalai in 1968 (Krishnan 1972), and to have nearly wiped out the B. gaurus population in Bandipur in 1989 (D. V. Girish, pers.comm.).”

If a herd has calves, the females in the herd are known to bunch together in a muskox fashion and have been observed leaping, kicking, snorting, tossing horns, and advancing toward detected leopards, tigers, and other perceived threats.

“If a herd has calves, the females in the herd are known to bunch together in a muskox fashion, i.e., backs to each other and facing outwards, and have been observed leaping and kicking their hind legs, snorting and tossing their horns, and holding their heads low and advancing, sometimes rapidly toward detected leopards and tigers and other perceived threats (Krishnan 1972;Johnsingh 1983;Karanth 1”

Bos gaurus has been observed facing the direction of a perceived threat with a raised head, raised muzzle, and flared nostrils.

“Bos gaurus has been observed facing the direction of a perceived threat with a raised head, raised muzzle, and flared nostrils (Schaller 1967;Krishnan 1972;Belsare et al. 1984; F. S. Ahrestani, in litt.).”

Although understood to be an uncommon occurrence, male B. gaurus do fight each other.

“Although understood to be an uncommon occurrence, males do fight each other (Inverarity 1889; Krishnan 1972;Schaller 1967).”

Adult male B. gaurus have been observed making a lateral end-on display, which appears to be a nonphysical method to establish dominance.

“Adult males have been observed making a lateral (oblique) end-on display, which appears to be a nonphysical method to establish dominance (Krishnan 1972).”

Mothers tend to thoroughly lick calves directly after their birth.

“Mothers tend to thoroughly lick calves directly after their birth (Krishnan 1972).”

In contrast to adult males, female B. gaurus, besides snorting during fear and threatening behavior, are only known to moo, sounding just like cattle.

“In contrast to adult males, females, besides snorting during fear and threatening behavior, are only known to moo, sounding just like cattle (Dunbar-Brander 1923;Krishnan 1972; F. S. Ahrestani, in litt.).”