| Abstract | The Gaur Bos gaurus ranges from India to peninsular Malaysia. The following article reviews its distribution, status and conservation in the Indian subcontinent on the basis of available information, both published papers and unpublished census reports of forest departments, and field survey data from northeastern India and parts of Bhutan and Nepal. The Gaur is found in three disjunct regions: southwestern India, central India and northeastern India, including Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Within these regions the distribution is highly fragmented and includes a number of small non-viable isolated populations. The habitat in northeastern India is still contiguous with that in Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh and to some extent with Nepal. Although the estimated population of the Gaur is 23000-34000, it is declining at an alarming rate. Populations outside the protected areas may not last long. An action plan has been proposed for its conservation. |