The
gaur (pronounced
/ˈɡaʊər/) (
Bos gaurus, previously
Bibos gauris) is a large, dark-coated forest animal of
South Asia and
Southeast Asia. The largest populations are found today in
India. The gaur belongs to the
Bovinae subfamily, which also includes
bison, domestic
cattle,
yak and
water buffalo. The gaur is the largest species of wild cattle, bigger than the
African buffalo, the extinct
aurochs (the ancestor of domestic
cattle),
wild water buffalo or bison. It is also called
seladang or, in the context of
safari tourism,
Indian bison. The domesticated form of the gaur is called
gayal or
mithun.