A herd of about ten gaurs, a rare kind of wild cattle typical of South Asia and Southeast Asia, have been discovered living on Mount Voi Mep at a height of 1,700m in Huong Hoa district in Quang Tri.

Cameras used in a biodiversity conservation corridors initiative (BCI) recorded the images of the herd in the North Huong Hoa nature reserve on March 7-8, reported the provincial forest management agency.

The agency says that it has also come across the animals’ tracks and droppings. A German research centre that is assisting the agency confirmed that the herd includes two large males, at an estimated weight of one tonne each, and at least two grown females.

This is the first time such a large herd of gaurs has been found in the North Huong Hoa nature reserve and also the third locality to date that has been identified as being home to gaurs.

The Quang Tri Forest Management Agency is teaming up with the local authorities to conduct field surveys and work out a plan to protect the gaurs, which are listed as endangered in the Red Book.

VietNamNet/VOV