Gayal-human relationships in the forests of Bangladesh

This paper presents changes in the relationships between the gayal (Bos frontalis) and humans in South Asia-especially in Bangladesh-in light of historical ecology. When gayals were wild and humans had no access to them, they were of no human use. During the period when humans settled in the gayals' habitat and began to hunt them, they were used in a limited way by human. After their semi-domestication, they were used for multiple purposes, and today they play an important role in the socioeconomic and cultural life of the local ethnic people. Gayals have been transformed from unused animals to animals very useful to these people, but they have also become symbolic objects to be protected through the implementation of effective conservation programs. These historical changes in the gayal-human relationship provide important examples for consideration of the relationship of humans with once-wild animals in today's world. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.