GAUR OR INDIAN 'BISON' The Gaur (Bos gaurus) is the largest and most magnificent of all the world's bovines, measuring up to 6 feet 4 inches at the shoulder and weighing over 2,000 pounds. It lives in the forest areas of northeast, central and south India, as well as in some parts of southeast Asia. It is often mistakenly nicknamed 'bison' by sportsmen, but it is not really a bison at all. It is wild ox, and a much larger and finer looking animal than the true bisons of North America and Europe.

The master bull of a herd of these animals in Periyar Sanctuary of Kerala paused for a moment as he was grazing and looked up - the embodiment of vigour and strength. He was still for a second, but in that time the camera had 'shot' him and from that picture this postage stamp has been made. Distinctive features of this noble creature are the dorsal ridge and white 'stockings'. Young calves are golden yellow in colour, cows and immature bulls are reddish brown, while fully grown bulls are jet black. A domesticated version of the gaur is found with the hill tribesmen in the mountains of northeast India, known as the 'gayal'.

It closely resembles the gaur and roams semi-wild in the forests, but it is slightly smaller and its horns are flat and straight instead of being nicely curved. No one knows how this animal, known as the mithun, originated, unless it was the result of a long-ago cross between the gaur and some domestic breed.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India