Rare Bison Bos Gaurus Makes First Appearance in Thailand Sanctuary After 37 Years

For the first time in 37 years, a camera captured the rare Bos Gaurus bison in a Thai wildlife refuge.

First Sighting in 37 Years

In a remarkable development, a wildlife sanctuary in Thailand has captured the rare sight of a bison for the first time in 37 years. Video footage recorded in early October at the Salawin Wildlife Sanctuary in northern Thailand revealed an endangered bison wandering during the dark hours. The Bos Gaurus, as it's locally known, has faced endangerment for decades in Thailand.

This extraordinary sighting has rekindled hopes that a small group of bison may be living in the sanctuary. It also establishes the sanctuary as the only protected forest in northern Thailand where this species has been seen recently, with the last documented sighting dating back to 1986.

Arkhom Boonnontae, chief of the Salawin Wildlife Sanctuary, explained that their staff had been diligently using camera traps to monitor wildlife distribution in the area. They strategically placed these traps where wildlife tracks were abundant or where various species had been reported. In the early hours of the morning, they successfully captured a photo of this rare wildlife in northern Thailand, a Bos Gaurus.

This sanctuary is of great ecological and biodiversity significance, particularly in the border forest region between Thailand and Myanmar.

Endangered Bison Bos Gaurus

The Bos Gaurus, commonly known as Gaur, is a native species of South and Southeast Asia and holds the title of the largest extant bovine. Since 1986, it has been classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to its declining population. In Thailand, Gaur face threats from habitat loss and poaching for the commercial trade of meat and trophies, leading to a decrease in their numbers.

Gaur, the largest cattle species globally and among the largest land mammals, has few natural predators, with tigers being the primary threat to healthy adults. Once widespread in forested regions across South and Southeast Asia, their distribution has contracted by over 80% in the last century, contributing to a 90% decline in the global population during the latter half of the 20th century.

Despite these challenges, successful anti-poaching and reforestation efforts in Thailand have led to some sub-populations recovering. Additionally, a domesticated variant known as the gayal or mithun (Bos frontalis) exists in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and China. This peculiar hump-backed bovid species roams Southeast Asia's forests and grasslands, characterized by its large dark-colored body, slim white legs, and the absence of a white rump patch, distinguishing it from the banteng.

Salawin Wildlife Sanctuary

Salawin National Park, spanning 721.52 square kilometers in Amphoe Sop Moei and Mae Sariang of Mae Hong Son province, Thailand, earned national park status in 1994. It offers stunning landscapes, featuring rugged mountain ranges with the highest peak at 1,027 meters above sea level, the source of major rivers like Mae Nam Yuam, Mae Nam Salawin, and more.

The park is adorned with mixed deciduous and dipterocarp forests, hosting plants like Tectona grandis and Xytia xylocarpa. Its diverse wildlife includes Southern Serow, Sambar Deer, Tigers, Gibbons, and an array of bird species like White Wagtail, Dollarbird, and butterflies like Common Birdwing.