Residents of Anekal, on the southern outskirts of Bengaluru, heaved a sigh of relief on Saturday as the gaur, commonly known as the Indian bison, which had been roaming through villages in the area, crossed over into Tamil Nadu’s Hosur.
V. Ganesh, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Bengaluru Urban Division, told The Hindu that they saw the bovine cross into the neighbouring State near the TVS factory on Saturday, following which their counterparts in Tamil Nadu were immediately alerted.
“Tamil Nadu’s Forest Department is monitoring the gaur’s movement. We too are keeping an eye out for a possible return,” Mr. Ganesh told The Hindu.
The gaur was first spotted near Anekal’s Yallammapalya–Doddahagade region and later appeared in a viral video showing it overturning a parked scooter with its horn. Panic spread across the region after the video was widely shared on social media.
Mr. Ganesh said that nearly 40 staff members were deployed soon after the sighting, and they monitored the animal continuously. Both thermal and normal drones were used to track its movement.
“The gaur passed through Chikkahagade, Haldenahalli, Karpur, and Attibele in the southern outskirts of the city. It was last seen in the Tamil Nadu region, but we are keeping a close watch around the area,” he said.
Forest officials suspect that the gaur may have separated from its herd or may have been unable to keep up with it, prompting the animal, believed to be in its 20s, to walk in a different direction. They also suspect that the gaur may have travelled past Muthyala Maduvu, an area where leopard sightings are common.
“Several wildlife species can be seen in this region, as Bannerghatta National Park lies on the fringes of Muthyala Maduvu. Sightings of gaur are very common here and have been reported for many years,” a senior forest officer told The Hindu.
In this instance, the gaur damaged a scooter and some agricultural produce. However, no casualties were reported.
Published – November 30, 2025 09:08 pm IST