Gaur Snorting

[Saktipada Panigrahi]

Nice image.The behavior well documented.Beautiful write up.Thanks for sharing.SaktiWild
I may quote from the writings of M.Krishnan:

"The snort of surprise or alarm with head,and usually the tail as well,thrown up and the nostrils flared,isoften,but not invariably,the prelude to flight,and on a gaur coming out this sound the entire herd takes alarm ( refhoto shows a cow at the moment of coming out with this sound,and also 2 seconds later, placid once more,having got over her surprise at suddenly seeing men atop a stationary elephant).Although this sound is an entirely spontaneous response to alarm,the initial part of it (which perhaps consists in sharp intake of breath) is muffled,and what follows is an eruptive snort.Dunbar Brander renders this 'pff-hong' and adds 'the "pff"' is the noise made by the rush of air past the lips before the note is struck'.To my ears, the sound is definitely nasal and eruptive,i.e., a snort.
Bulls and cows even,come out with short, deep bronchial grunts and snorts when excited or angry, as when a tiger or leopard is seen or when sorrounded by dogs."-M.Krishnan