In Search of The Elusive Goyal

[Zia Hasan]

This is my third trip in search of the elusive Goyal (bos gaurus frontalis) into the Chittagong Hill Tracks. My first trip, mired by the death of a close relative of my host came to a disastrous end after I had contaminated Typhoid from drinking tainted water. My second attempt involved a two-mile trek through tough terrain to a Mru settlement and frantic last minute negotiations with the village Karbari, whose son agreed to take me to a watering hole that their Goyals frequent. Alas, we could not find any in the immediate area; extreme heat during daytime forced the thick hided animals to go deep into the forest, where they would gather near thickly shaded streams and watering holes.

Unlike the domesticated cow, the Goyals never live near human settlements, preferring the surrounding woods and Jhum plantations to graze. They also tend to shun away from direct human contact, until the time comes when they travel en masse to lick the offered salt at their owners hut. Although, belonging to a different species, the Goyal can successfully breed with a domesticated cow. I’ve recently observed a hybrid as it grazed along the road with a cow herd, although, similar in appearance it lacked the well articulated ridge between the horns that the Goyals and wild Gaurs are famous for. A fully grown Goyal (about eight to ten years old) is truly an awesome sight, well developed muscles envelope a stocky frame that gives the impression of the remarkable strength that these seemingly docile creatures are capable of. Although, partially domesticated a Goyal is not a drought animal and tire quickly if handled without due consideration. Like an ensnared crocodile, it’s capable of generating tremendous power at short bursts. Eyewitnesses have reported seeing Goyals fight off fully grown tigers when endangered.