The blue sheep Pseudois nayaur
The blue sheep, also called the bharal, is found in the Himalayas and Tibet where it inhabits plateaus and open grassy slopes in high mountains at altitudes from 2,500 to 5,500 meters above sea level. Blue sheep avoid forests and scrubs, keeping at the upper forest line only in winter months. In this period, they form large groups consisting of thousands of individuals, and forage through the day. In summer, males gather in separate single sex groups. Blue sheep feed on grasses, lichens, and mosses.
The Latin name of this animal, “false sheep”, reflects the uncertainty in the taxonomy of this species, which, indeed, has some characteristics typical for a goat, including large accessory hooves, pronounced coloration on the front legs, and wide, flattened tail without hair on the underside. And as to the common name “blue sheep”, it accounts for the slate-blue colour of this sheep’s coat that is especially pronounced in the first winter of the animal life. Adult animals have greyish-brown coats with light colour on the belly and black stripes on the front side of the legs. The blue tint of the bharals makes them almost invisible against the background of blue-grayish rock that is typical within their open habitats. When threatened, the bharal usually hides and stay still; it would jump on the rocks and other inaccessible places only in case of serious danger. Thick horns of the bharal are located close to each other at the base, growing upwards, then turning sideways and curving backwards. Males’ horns reach a length of 80 cm. In females, the horns are much shorter, growing only up to 20 cm long. The underside of the tail is hairless just at the base, where small scent glands are found. The blue sheep is a medium-sized ungulate with a body length of 115 to 165 cm, a shoulder height of 75-90 cm, and a body weight of 35 to 75 kg. Females are considerably smaller than males. Mating occurs between October and November. The female usually gives birth to one lamb in late May or early July.
