Forest rangers in Wang Nam Khiao district of the north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima are trying to track down a gaur, believed to have been injured when it was struck by a pick-up truck on a road in the Khao Paeng Ma no-hunting area on Thursday night.

The pick-up truck driver, Pol Sub-Lt Boontun Namwongsa, an officer attached to Wang Nam Khiao police station, said that he was driving at a speed of about 70 km/hour last night on a dark road when a gaur suddenly emerged from the bushes and dashed across the road. He said he was unable to apply the brakes in time, crashed into the animal and stopped immediately.

His car sustained heavy damage from the impact, but the gaur disappeared back into the bushes.

Chief of the no-hunting zone, Annop Buanual, said he believes the animal, also known as an Indian Bison, is injured, even though no blood was found at the scene of the accident, adding that forest rangers and volunteers have been deployed to track down the animal so it can be treated.

Khao Paeng Ma is a reforestation site covering 8km2 adjacent to Khao Yai National Park. It is home to about 300 guars, according to the census taken in 2018.

It is a popular location for wildlife watching, especially a spot on a hill, with good views over surrounding grassland where guars regularly graze.