The Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus
The word “tahr” is translated as “half-goat” and indeed, the Himalayan tahr combines features of both a goat and a sheep. The Himalayan tahr has a stocky body, and short legs with wide hooves that allow it to move smoothly on the rugged mountain slopes. The head is proportionally small, with large eyes, and small pointed ears. The body length ranges from 90 cm to 1.6 m, shoulder height is between 60 and 110 cm and weight varies from 50 to 100 kg. The heavy elongated body is higher at the shoulders than at the rump. The tahr has dense, very long reddish to dark brown woolly coat with a thick undercoat which forms a thick lion-like mane around the animal’s neck. The horns are relatively thick and short (up to 43 cm in males and up to 35 cm in females) and curve abruptly backwards, and then inwards. The tail of the Himalayan tahr is similar to the tail of a goat: the underside is hairless and has scent glands. The Himalayan tahr is found in the Himalayas including China (southern Tibet), north India, and Nepal, inhabiting the forests of steep rocky mountain sides and gorges (in summer, the females ascend above tree line). Himalayan tahrs were introduced in New Zealand where they successfully adapted to local environment and widely dispersed in the mountains. Himalayan tahrs are most active at dusk, resting in the shades of trees and rocks during midday heat. These mountain ungulates are predominantly grazers, feeding on grasses and herbs, but they also browse the leaves and shoots of shrubs. Himalayan tahrs live in herds of 20 to 40 individuals; outside of the breeding season, males usually live in separate bachelor groups. During the rut, males fight for the right to mate with females. Gestation in females lasts 180 to 242 days, after which period one or two calves are born.
