Gaur Bos gaurus

Guar are the world's largest, heaviest and most powerful wild cattle. Known as Seladang in Malaysia and Indian Bison, they are native to India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand and other fragmented habitats in southeast Asia. There are few tigers left to threaten wild Gaur but hunting by man, together with habitat loss, has replaced tigers as their main threat.

The male (bull, above left) is larger than the female (cow, above centre), standing some 7 feet at the shoulder. He is also darker, nearly black with brown highlights in the sun. She is dark brown with reddish highlights and the calf is lighter rufous brown. Both adults have horns. Both are massive, powerfully built and have white knee-length socks.

Cow with calf. Adult females and young live in small herds led by a matriarch but including one or more adult bulls; other bulls are solitary or in small male groups. Gaurs have also been domesticated.