Behavioural patterns and food habits of re-introduced gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.

Abstract

The present study was designed to study the behavioural patterns and food habits of the reintroduced gaur population in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The study was carried out from March 2012 to February 2014. For the collection of data on the behavioural patterns of gaur the scan sampling technique was used and 13 distinct activities of gaur were identified viz. feeding, moving, resting, standing, autogrooming, allogrooming, sexual behaviour, aggressive behaviour, drinking, salt licking, vocalising, defecating/urinating and alert behaviour. In the present study the social interactions among the members of a gaur herd were classified as allogrooming, dominance-subordination interactions and sexual behaviour. Four types of dominance-subordination interactions were recorded among gaur during the study period in Bandhavgarh.