The Behaviour of Seladang (Bibos gaurus)

Extract

Reaction to the Presence of Man and of Tiger.—Bull seladang grazing in the open seldom raise their heads from the serious business of filling their maws, but leave watch-dog duties to the cows. The latter seldom keep their heads down long, and it is on this account that care must be taken when stalking a herd up wind in the open. Some cow almost always has her head up looking about. I say “looking about”, for they do not generally try the wind unless some strange or dangerous scent comes to them; then all, even the bulls, are on their toes. When an unfavourable wind is received they first throw up their heads and face into the wind, raising their noses; after a good inspiration in this position, they swing their heads sharply first to one side, then after a short pause to the other side, testing the wind. They may repeat this action several times before being certain. From this they are able to determine the direction in which any danger may lie. If it is a scent denoting the presence of man they hesitate not on the order of going, stampeding away from the dreaded scent for perhaps seventy or a hundred yards. After their initial rush they pull up for a short pause making sure the danger is not on their tails. If the danger is not so close, they slip quietly away at a fast walk; if the source of danger is not following they keep this up, perhaps, for several miles, before they pull up for a real breather, but still remain very wary.