GAUR BACKGROUND | BUCARDO BACKGROUND
Approximately 100 species become extinct each day. This reality becomes more alarming if we take into consideration that the extinction of species accelerates – if not actually promotes – the extinction of other species and sub-species. In addition, there are many species classified as endangered and are in danger of extinction in most or all of their natural range. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates that there are 496 species of animals listed as endangered in the U.S alone.
The gaur (Bos gaurus), a large wild ox, is one of these species in danger of extinction. This large animal is generally brown or black with a humplike ridge on the back and with white or yellow stockings on all four legs. Adult males have shoulder heights of 5.6-7.2 feet and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. Females are about one third smaller than males. Both genders have horns, which are flattened at the base, strongly curved and sweep backward and inward. Both genders also have shoulder humps, with males having especially pronounced humps.
Gaurs live in herds of at least 8-12 individuals, which are led by a single, older bull. Gaurs are basically diurnal, when not disturbed. Where human activities have disturbed populations, however, the gaur has become largely nocturnal. The gaur’s principal foods are grasses, bamboo shoots, leaves and tree bark.
Gaurs live about 30 years, reaching sexual maturity in the 2nd and 3rd year. They have a gestation period of 275 days, which usually results in one birth, although occasionally twins are born.
This wild ox inhabits rainforest, bamboo jungles and open grasslands near forests, often far from any open grazing. The gaur’s historic geographical location is in Bangladesh, Southeast Asia and India. Traditionally, their main predators have been the tiger and leopard. Today gaurs are severely endangered by destruction of the rainforests and by hunting and diseases that usually transmitted from domestic cattle. Gaurs have been domesticated in India for work and meat. The domestic form is called gayal, and is smaller than its wild counterpart.
Various zoos in the U.S. have captive gaur populations and there has been some concern that inbreeding may take place in these small populations. There are currently less than 100 animals in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Species Survival Plan. This plan, among other things, is designed to scientifically manage the captive gaur population and breeding program. In addition to ensuring proper protection plans for the still existing animals in their natural habitat, conservationists have recognized that it is necessary to develop programs to recover this endangered species.
Approximately 100 species become extinct each day. This reality becomes more alarming if we take into consideration that the extinction of species accelerates – if not actually promotes – the extinction of other species and sub-species.
The bucardo mountain goat (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica) had been listed as an endangered species and protected under Spanish law since 1973. Poaching and habitat destruction, however, had not ceased and natural disasters like landslides continued to plague the animal. In January 2000, the last surviving Bucardo mountain goat was found killed by a falling tree and the animal became extinct.
The Bucardo was native to an area of mountainous northern Spain near the French border and was one of several subspecies of Pyrenees mountain goats. The Bucardo lived in some of the most inaccessible slopes of the range, eventually only living in the Ordesa National Park in Spain.
The Bucardo has a distinctive thick coat to protect it from frigid mountain air. The females are also unique from other goats by virtue of the fact that they have horns with broader bases than other goats.
When it became apparent in the spring of 2000 that conservation efforts were not going to be successful, biologists chose another route to protect the species and took a tissue sample from the 13 year-old Bucardo female only months before her death for possible future use in cloning technologies.