Story behind the shot
I was driving through Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve when I saw this massive bull gaur behind some bushes. Got out carefully, stalked the animal using the bush as cover, and got close enough to take this shot. All the while hoping it doesn’t run away, or worse, charge. This guy had torn ears, and one eye seemed to be damaged. Seemed like a veteran of many fights. It was raining, and the ground was muddy, so my knees and elbows took some beating. Light was bad, so had to shoot using a low shutter speed.
Shot details
1/80s handheld, 500mm, f/5.6
About the species
The gaur or Indian bison (Bos gaurus), also called Indian bison, is the largest extant bovine in the world, bigger than the Cape Buffalo and American Bison. A ‘Vulnerable’ species as per IUCN classification, Gaurs can weigh upto 1500 kgs, and stand more than 7 feet tall at the shoulder.
NBR has some monster specimens, rivaling those I have seen in Kanha National Park.
