Bharal

The bharal, also called the Himalayan blue sheep, is a wild mountain animal of the high Himalayas. It lives on alpine meadows and rocky slopes in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan, usually between 2,200 and 5,500 metres above sea level.

Its slate-grey coat has a bluish tint, which gives it the name blue sheep. Even though it is called a sheep, studies show it is genetically closer to goats. It is also one of the main prey animals of the snow leopard. The bharal is the only member of its genus, and scientists recognise two main subspecies, the Himalayan blue sheep and the Chinese blue sheep. Its home is among the rocky cliffs.

Life on the cliffs

The bharal is mostly a grazer that eats grasses, but it will browse shrubs when food is scarce. Its grey coat blends with rock, and it shelters under cliffs to avoid predators. It is a medium-sized animal, about 115 to 165 centimetres long and 35 to 75 kilograms. Its slate-grey fur blends with the rocky cliffs. It lives in alpine meadows and on rocky slopes, and it usually stays at high altitudes of 2,200 to 5,500 metres.

Horns and mating season

Both males and females carry horns, but the males' curved horns are larger and can reach about 80 centimetres. Mating, called the rut, runs from late November to mid-January, when males use various moves to win mates. The IUCN lists the bharal as Least Concern, although poaching and competition with livestock can cause problems. Males use various manoeuvres to win mates during the rut. In many mountain valleys the bharal is also the staple food of the snow leopard, which makes it important for the whole mountain ecosystem.

On the globe

The model shows a blue-grey wild bovid with curved horns. Look for it in the high mountains of the Himalaya.