The Indian bison is more accurately called the gaur, Bos gaurus. It is not a true bison, but it is the largest living wild cattle species and one of the most powerful-looking hoofed mammals in Asia.
Gaurs are native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, though their range is now fragmented. They live mainly in evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous forests, especially in hilly areas with water and plenty of grasses, bamboo, shrubs, and trees to browse.
Adults have a massive body, a high shoulder ridge, curved horns, and pale lower legs that look like white stockings. Bulls are especially large and dark, sometimes appearing almost black, while cows and younger animals are usually smaller and lighter brown.
Gaurs are herbivores. They graze on grasses and bamboo, browse leaves and shrubs, and may eat fruit, flowers, bark, and other plant parts depending on the season.
Females and calves usually move in small herds, while adult bulls may travel alone or join groups during breeding periods. The species is listed as Vulnerable because of habitat loss, hunting, disease risk from domestic cattle, and the fragmentation of wild populations.