Source: The post is based on the article “As wildlife diplomacy takes wing, government considers Sri Lankan proposal for translocating gaurs” published in The Hindu on 17th October 2022.
What is the News?
Sri Lanka has asked India to translocate 6 Indian Bisons (Gaurs) to reintroduce them in the island from where they became extinct by the end of 17th century.
If the project is cleared, it would be the first such agreement between India and Sri Lanka.
What is Indian Bison?
Indian Gaur or Bison is the largest species among the wild cattle and the Bovidae.
Population: There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world with approximately 85% of the population present in India. It is also found in Burma and Thailand.
– The first-ever population estimation exercise of the Indian gaur carried out in the Nilgiris Forest Division in 2020 estimated around 2,000 Indian gaurs to be inhabiting the division.
Habitat: Indian Bisons are mostly found in the hilly parts of the Western Ghats region such as Bandipur, Wayanad and Mudumalai.
State Animal: Gaur is the state animal of Goa and Bihar.
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule I
Threats: a) Habitat Fragmentation b) Hunting for consumption and c) contract diseases transmitted by domestic cattle.
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