• Largest and tallest species in the wild cattle family.
• Scientific Name: Bos gaurus.
• Indigenous to South and Southeast Asia.

• Found in evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous forests with open grasslands.
• Prefers hilly terrains below 1,500–1,800 m with abundant water.
• Distributed across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand.

• Social animals living in herds of 30–40 individuals.
• Strong and sturdy limbs, short tails, and inward-curved pale green/yellowish-brown horns.
• Males weigh 600–1,500 kg; females weigh 400–1,000 kg.
• Convex-shaped forehead; height ranges from 170–230 cm.

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
• CITES: Appendix I.

PYQ:

[2011] A sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of an Indian animal species. The animal has no predators in that area but its existence is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat. Which one of the following could be that animal?

(a) Indian wild buffalo

(b) Indian wild ass

(c) Indian wild boar

(d) Indian gazelle.