The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

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Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park, Koshi
Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Parsa Wildlife Reserve
and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. Nilgai are not
confined to these areas and also occur outside in the
adjoining districts of Banke, Bardia, Kailali,
Kanchanpur, Kapilvastu (Taulihawa), Nawalparasi,
Parsa and Rupandehi (Lumbini forests).
Distribution outside Nepal
India, Pakistan.
Main Threats
• Retaliatory killing in response to crop raiding.
• Poaching for subsistence and for hide.
• Habitat loss and degradation due to human
encroachment, clearing for agriculture and
over-grazing of livestock.
Conservation Measures in Place
Although a number of protected areas show
presence of Nilgai, the majority of Nilgai population
in Nepal exist outside protected areas in Taulihawa
(Kapilvastu district) and Lumbini forests (district of
Rupandehi). This species benefits from its
association with cows which are considered sacred
in Hindu religion and therefore has a limited amount
of social and cultural protection.
Conservation Recommendations
i) Conduct periodic standardised population
surveys.
ii) Monitor and record human-wildlife conflict data,
trial and implement effective mitigation measures
working closely with farmers.
iii) Enhance protection of populations occurring
outside of protected areas by implementing stricter
enforcement of the law, regular monitoring and
engagement with local communites (for example,
introducing community run anti-poaching units and
raising awareness).
iv) Improve habitat management including effective
invasive alien plant species control and decreasing
competition with livestock (for example, introduce
livestock free areas where Nilgai populations occur).
References
Walther 1990, Nowak 1991, Corbett and Hill 1992, Wilson and Reeder 1993, Suwal and Verheugt 1995,
Lasiwa 1999,Nepal Red List of Mammals Field Technicians Workshop, Ultimate Ungulate 2010.
14) Bos gaurus (Smith, 1827)
Common Names
Gaur (English); Gauri Gai (Nepali)
Synonyms
Bos gour (Hardwicke, 1827); Bos cavifrons, Bos
subhemachalus (Hodgson, 1837); Bos gaur (Sundevall,
1846); Bos asseel (Horsfield, 1851); Bubalibos
annamiticus, Gauribos brachyrhinus, Gauribos
laosiensis, Gauribos mekongensis, Gauribos sylvanus,
Uribos platyceros (Heude, 1901); Bos gaurus hubbacki
(Lydekker, 1907);
Sinhaleyus (Deraniyagala, 1951)
Species Description
Largest bovine in the world, with large head, deep
chest and muscular shoulder ridge. Adult males are
mostly glossy black, females and young are coffeebrown,
all with white legs below the knee. Both
sexes grow horns which curve upwards and are a
yellow-white colour with black tips.