THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Feb 26: Concern and anxiety are growing for the Indian Gaur popularly known as ‘bison’, here in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR).
Its numerical strength is debilitating. In the past 20 years or so it has headcount far below 100 as PTR people estimate it to be in the range of 60 to 70 said a wildlife expert D S Srivastav.
Srivastav said “It’s high time when we should focus on this wildlife. It is as precious as tiger. The tigers in the country outnumber Indian Gaur.”
A biologist Hritik Dhami of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, who is currently in Betla, said “We share the concern for the Indian Gaur. They need to be taken care of before they vanish from Jharkhand as Indian Gaur is right now at Betla National Park only.”
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Dhami said “We will have to research what is the ratio of male and female Indian Gaur. It is also to be found out if newborn calf or calves are around.”
The size and weight of the Indian Gaur can be a match to blue bull called Nilgai. However, blue bull is not a resident of the PTR while Indian Gaur is just limited to the Betla National Park.
As this wild bovine is a browsing animal it loves eating the upper parts of plants like leaves, stems, seeds, fruits etc and human interference disturbs its eating mode more, opined Dhami.
