Bharal

typical bharal
Flock of bharal grazing

The bharal or Himalayan blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) is a mammal of the Caprinae subfamily.

The bharal is found in the high Himalayas of Nepal, Tibet, China, Kashmir, Pakistan, Bhutan and the Republic of India.

The bharal has horns that grow upwards, curve out and then towards the back, somewhat like an upside down mustache.

Bharal are active throughout the day, feeding and resting on the grassy mountain slopes. With their excellent camouflage and the absence of cover in their environment, bharal stay motionless when approached. Once they have been noticed, however, they scamper up to the precipitous cliffs, where they once again freeze, using camouflage to blend into the rock face.[1]

Where they overlap, they are the favourite prey of snow leopards and leopards. A few lambs fall prey to foxes or eagles.

References