VietNamNet Bridge - A gaur (Bos Guarus) weighing nearly 100 kilos was found dead at Nong Lam plantation in Dong Phu district in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on May 20.



The animal is classified in Group 1B, which means it must be protected against illegal capture, breeding, trading or hunting under Vietnamese laws.

Investigation results show the animal died of injuries and bruises on the left leg after getting caught in a trap installed by illegal hunters.

The dead gaur was culled on May 23.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hat, Chief of the local forest protection department, said that there is only a small population of gaurs in Binh Phuoc with more than 20 individuals in Dong Phu district.

Dr. Le Xuan Canh, Rector of the Institute for Natural Resources and Biology, said that gaurs are usually killed for their meat, gall and urine. “Because of rumor about the miracle effects of gaur gall and urine in curing skin and digestive diseases, gaurs are hunted,” he added.

He said that the price for a gaur gall bladder is tens of million dong (thousand of USD). The price for gaur meat is many time higher than normal beef.

Mr. Tran Viet Hung, deputy director of the Education for Nature (ENV) said that gaurs are also hunted for their horns, which are used as decorative items.

Since 2009, ENV has recorded 14 violation cases related to gaur trading and trafficking, selling horns and gall.

In Vietnam, the number of gaurs has fallen sharply, to around 300 head at present, mainly in the national parks in Lao Cai in the north and Kon Tum and Lam Dong in the Central Highlands. Gaurs are facing high threat of extinction because of deforestation and illegal hunting.

S. Tung