Mithun, Drung ox
The gayal (Bos frontalis) is a large domestic cattle found in SOutheast Asia.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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BrowsingBrowsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore (or, more narrowly defined, a folivore) feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growi...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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HerdingA herd is a social grouping of certain animals of the same species, either wild or domestic. The form of collective animal behavior associated with...
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Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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Semi-domesticatedSemi-domestic animals are those that may or may not be fully domesticated. Many of them could not be released into the wild, or are in some way dep...
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starts withThe head and body skin of gayals is blackish-brown, and the lower portion of the limbs are white or yellowish. Some domesticated gayals are parti-colored, while others are completely white. They have thick and massive horns with a blackish tint from base to tip. Females are much smaller than males and have smaller dewlap on the throat.
Gayals are found in Northeast India, Bangladesh, northern Myanmar, and in Yunnan, China. They inhabit hill forests. In India, semi-domesticated gayals are kept by several ethnic groups living in the hills of Tripura, Mizoram, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. They also occur in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In northern Burma, they occur in the Kachin State, and in adjacent Yunnan are found only in the Trung and Salween River basins. These animals prefer cold and mild climates and are mainly found in tropical rain forests.
Gayals are social animals and live in herds. From birth until the time of butchering or market, they remain in the herd and roam mostly freely throughout the forests. Females are usually aggressive when with calves, and there are instances known when people have been severely injured after being gored by one. Males are usually more docile. These animals are active during the day and prefer to rest in the shade in the midday.
Gayals are herbivorous animals that feed on tree fodders, shrubs, herbs, and other natural vegetation.
Little is known about the mating system in gayals. These animals breed throughout the year. Females usually give birth to a single calf and the gestation period lasts around 270-290 days. Little information is also known about parental care and raising the young. Females become reproductively mature at 40-48 months of age, while males are ready to breed when they are 3-4 years old.
There are no major threats to gayals at present. However, crossbreeding with the local cattle and hunting for meat can be threats to these animals in the near future.
The total population size of the gayal is unknown.
Gayals originated more than 8000 years ago and are thought to be descendants of wild gaur. These animals play an important role in the social, cultural, and economic life of local people. To own a gayal is considered to be a sign of prosperity and wealth for the family. Farmers mainly rear these animals for meat. Besides this gayals are also used as a marriage gift and sacrificial animal for different social and cultural ceremonies.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...