Bharal
Its bluish-grey coat is an excellent camouflage against its predators
The bharal or blue sheep is a caprid that lives in the mountains and high plateaus of Asia, ranging from Pakistan to western Tibet and Qinghai in eastern China. It occupies grassy slopes and cliffs between 2,000 and 5,000 metres, and sometimes moves even higher.
It feeds on grasses, various high-altitude perennials, and lichens. Males and females have the same bluish-grey coat, which can sometimes be lighter. They have black forelegs, white knees and a white belly. The male has horns that curve backwards and may grow to a length of 80 cm, while the female's horns do not exceed 20 cm in length.
Females live in groups separately from males, except during the rut. They have only one young per litter.
The colour of their coat provides excellent camouflage on rock faces. If they feel in danger, bharal remain motionless, which makes them difficult to spot. If they are noticed, they escape by scampering up the steep cliffs.
Apart from human hunters, the bharal‘s main predators are the snow leopard, leopard and grey wolf.
Four Bharals
The family is composed of Papa Yanji, mother Takhikot and little Yao. The other female is called Persiflette.
A less threatened species
- Name : Bharal
- Latin name : Pseudois nayaur
- Origin : Asia: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and China
- IUCN status : Least concerned
- Cites : --
