Massive Wild Gaur Sprints Away From a Tiger’s Ambush at Top Speed

Gigantic Wild Gaur Charges Straight Through a Tiger’s Ambush!

In the remarkable video at the top of the page, a quick snapshot of a tiger’s intense life is on full display! The video opens to the imposing tiger walking down a jungle road, surrounded on both sides by tall trees and dense vegetation. The tiger peers out into the forest to its left, seemingly staring at something in the woods with an intense focus. The tiger takes another few steps, lowering itself against the ground into a coiled stance.

Suddenly, the tiger jumps into action and takes another few stalking steps over to the tree line. Crouching as low down to the ground as it can, the tiger positions itself perfectly in an ambush position. Then, the center of the tiger’s focus steps up and into frame, a gigantic wild gaur bull! These gigantic bovines live in the jungles of India and southeast Asia, and are one of the few prey of a tiger that can put up a fight! As soon as the huge gaur comes into view, the tiger realizes its now in danger itself! 

The gaur makes a feint charge at the tiger, and the tiger immediately loses its nerve. Jumping back from the gaur’s sharp horns, the tiger opens up an angle of escape for the huge beast. Not wanting to spend another moment around a predator, the gaur takes its chance and sprints across the road. Bolting into the cover of the forest on the other side of the road, the tiger gives chase to the gaur. But the tiger seems to be chasing it out of a sense of pride rather than any actual hope. The gaur runs off onto a different road and the tiger decides to just give up.

The Gaur: The History, Behaviors and Habits of the Giant Wild Bull!

In the jungles of India and Southeast Asia, the wild gaur, as visible in the video at the top of the page, roams through its natural habitat. These gargantuan herbivores stand out for their incredible size, as well as their sharp, curved horns. Despite their somewhat solitary nature, gaurs often form loose-knit herds. Members of these herds will interact, but not necessarily stay grouped up all the time. This provides a sense of community within their sprawling territories, as well as crucial protection in vulnerable times such as when raising calves. 

Interaction between wild gaur and humans has shifted between harmony and conflict. As is the case almost everywhere on earth, agricultural expansion threatens their natural habitat. Gaurs are predominantly grazers, consuming a diet of grasses, leaves, and fruits. Somehow, the gaur have managed a population explosion in an era where other large fauna are in a decline. 

It’s easy to think that nothing could possibly harm a creature this big. However, their unbelievable size and strength don’t save them from natural predators. Tigers, like the one in the video at the top of the page, pose a significant threat to their existence. Other than tigers, gaur calves are targeted by leopards and dholes, emphasizing the intricacies of their ecological balance. 

Throughout history, the gaur has held cultural significance. The amazing gaur features prominently in mythologies and folklore across India and Southeast Asia. Despite their domesticable traits, gaurs have not been fully tamed like their domestic bovine relatives. Their resilience and wild nature contribute to their status as a symbol of strength and independence. The energy drink brand ‘Red Bull’ derives its name from the wild gaur, as the drink actually draws its origins from the gaur’s habitat.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © next143/iStock via Getty Images