Indian gaur dies after being hit by unidentified vehicle

Trichy: A two-year-old female Indian gaur died after being struck by an unidentified vehicle near Thuvarankurichi in Trichy district during the early hours of Tuesday.Forest department personnel discovered the carcass, which showed visible injuries, near Pillaiyarkoilpatti on the Manapparai-Thuvarankurichi Road.A team from the Manapparai forest range, led by ranger A Maheshwaran, recovered the carcass, which was estimated to be around 2.5 years old and weighed approximately half a tonne.The team moved the carcass to a separate location and performed an autopsy. Afterward, they buried the bovine by excavating a large pit.The forest department believes the gaur likely emerged from the Karuppur-Reddiapatti reserve forest area in search of food or water before being hit by a speeding vehicle on the Manapparai - Thuvarankurichi Road between 2am and 3am. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.The Indian gaur (Bos gaurus), also known as the Indian bison, is a large bovine species native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It has been classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 and is protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.