Aizawl: The Mizoram environment, forest and climate change department on Tuesday said a DNA test of a gaur (Indian bison) has been performed to determine if it is wild or domesticated.

The decision was taken following complaints by villagers of Lungzarhtum in Lawngtlai district that a wild gaur had come out of the forest and started living with a herd of domesticated cows. Soon, the herd started to follow it as its leader and the villagers could no longer control the animals. The DNA report is awaited.

Since gaur is protected by Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the villagers could not kill it. They couldn't milk their cows since they were no longer under their control. The department announced on Tuesday that financial assistance will be given to the victims.

In October, a villager from Darlawn, Tlangrokhuma, claimed that the gaur is not wild but belongs to his family and had run into the forest to escape the floods.