12 Best National Parks to Spot Gaur – Indian Bison
Gaur गौर is the tallest species of wild cattle found in India and largest extant bovine in the world. Gaur (Bos guarus) sometime known as Indian Bison is native to the Indian Subcontinent and listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss but the population is stable in protected areas of South India, particular in Western Ghats and Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Indian bison is found in which national park?
Almost all the national parks of Central and South India host healthy population of Gaur, here is the list of parks with highest number of Indian Bison.
Characteristics and Conservation:
Family – Bovidae
Height – 142 to 220 cm/ 5 ft 5
Weight – 900 to 1500 Kg (Males)
Population – 30,000
Predator – Tiger
Conservation Status – Vulnerable
The domesticated form of the gaur is called gayal (Bos frontalis) or mithun, found only in Northeast India.
Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka – 1500
Nagarhole National Park at the foothills of the Western Ghats is a must visit wildlife park in India. The park has flagship species like Bengal tiger,Indian bison and Indian elephants.
Bandipur National Park, Karnataka – 1200
Bandipur National Park of Karnataka is known for its wildlife and home to India’s endangered wild animals.
The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and supports several endangered and vulnerable species like Indian elephants and Indian Bison.
Periyar National Park, Kerala – 1000
Periyar Tiger Reserve is notable as both elephant reserve and a tiger reserve, The park is home to rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna. There are 35 wild animal species found in the park including Herd of Indian bisons at periyar lake,Indian elephants and few of white tigers found here.
Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu – 500
Mudumalai National Park in Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu shares its boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala.
Nilgiri mountains of Tamil Nadu has rare white Gaur, Only found in parts of in the Manjampatti Valley and called Manjampatti white bison or Albino gaur.
Kaziranga National Park, Assam – 30
Kaziranga National Park in Assam contains breeding populations of 35 mammalian species in India, The park has significant populations of large herbivores Gaur, Elephants,One Horned Rhinoceros and wild Asiatic water buffalo.
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka – 800
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka has a wide range of flora and fauna. The Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot and supports variety of wild animals including elephant, gaur and one of the best place to spot Black Leopard in India.
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu – 672
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and noted for significant population of Indian elephants and Indian Bison or Gaur also serve as a wildlife corridor in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra – 1091
Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolhapur is also known as Bison Sanctuary with a population around 1091. The sanctuary and natural World Heritage Site is the first declared wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra and also an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary near Kalpetta is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. The sanctuary is now an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and home to variety of large wild animals such as Indian bison and Indian elephant.
Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra 500
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project is home to mammals including good population of Bengal tiger,Indian leopards, sloth bears and Indian Bison as well as endangered Indian python and common Indian monitor.
Indravati National Park, Chhattisgarh
Indravati National Park in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh is home to one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo in India and significant population of gaur.
Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh – 1000
Kanha Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh National Park of Madhya Pradesh has significant population of Indian gaur. Gaur is the largest wild animal in the park and killed by only Bengal tiger.
