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Gaur, or Indian bison, is the largest bovine species in the world. (Photo Credits: X)
Adult members of a gaur herd often come to the rescue of juniors being hunted by big cats.
The tiger is undoubtedly one of the biggest predators in the forest. If one thinks of a fight between a bovine and a tiger, people would assume that the tiger would win. However, sometimes animals survive tiger attacks with a little help from their herd. Now, a video is going viral that shows a gaur, or Indian bison, escaping the clutches of a tiger when another bison comes to its rescue. Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared this bone-chilling video on X and wrote, “A friend in need…Gaur chases an adult tiger during hunting & saves its buddy.”
It is unclear when and where this video was taken. The clip has already gathered over 35,000 views since it was shared on April 16. The gaur is the biggest bovine species in the world. Thanks to their massive size and strength, gaur rarely have any natural predators. Only animals like tigers or crocodiles attack them, but even then tigers and crocodiles only go for unguarded calves or injured gaur as opposed to attacking a healthy adult gaur. Gaur are also known for coming to the rescue of their herd when they are under attack. Tigers are known for abandoning their prey if a stronger gaur comes to the rescue of another gaur, as seen in the above-mentioned video.
Commenting on this video, an X user observed, “Being loners, Tigers are not very efficient in making kills. They only make 1 kill every 20 attempts.”
Another person observed, “A tiger taking so much of time to kill a gour means it may be a non-experienced sub-adult or somehow handicap.”
A tiger taking so much of time to kill a gour means it may be non experienced sub adult or some how handicap.— Doctographer (@DrGyanendra2) April 17, 2024
Someone else noted, “Look at the humongous size of the Tiger. The Gaur it was trying to bring down was most likely a female or a young Gaur (given its size). But then came the heavy Cavalry and it made even the Tiger look small.”
Look at the humungous size of the Tiger 😲😲😲The Gaur it was trying to bring down was most likely a female or a young Gaur (given its size). But then came the heavy Cavalry and it made even the Tiger look small 😁 https://t.co/Ys3YkaW3Fv— VatsRohit (@KesariDhwaj) April 16, 2024
An X user commented on one’s ability to find narratives in every wildlife video and wrote, “Always find it interesting how we, humans, find a harmonious narrative. If the gaur had been killed, we would concentrate on majestic beauty and sheer strength.”
Always find it interesting how we, humans, find a harmonious narrative. If the gaur had been killed, we would concentrate on majestic beauty and sheer strength. https://t.co/18XyXE2P8c— Amrendra Pandey (@apamrendra) April 16, 2024
The Gaur is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. Globally, their estimated population is believed to be 21,000. The majority of gaur are found in India. The gaur is the state animal of Goa and Bihar. Popular energy drink Red Bull had two fighting gaur as its logo.