Himalayan tahr

The Himalayan tahr is a stocky wild goat that lives on the steep forested slopes and cliffs of the Himalayas, in southern Tibet, northern India, western Bhutan and Nepal. Males grow a thick reddish coat, and both sexes have short horns that curve backwards.

It is listed as Near Threatened because hunting and habitat loss are shrinking the wild population in its homeland. People have also carried tahr to other countries, including New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and the United States, where some herds now live far from the Himalayas.

What does a tahr look like?

Himalayan tahr have small heads, pointed ears and large eyes. Their horns can reach about 46 centimetres, and the backward curve helps prevent injuries when males butt heads in the mating season. Males are bigger than females, averaging roughly 73 kilograms against about 36 kilograms. Thick reddish wool and a heavy undercoat keep them warm in the cold mountains, and the coat grows thinner and lighter in colour as winter ends. Like all hoofed animals of its group, it has an even number of toes and can grip both smooth and rough rock.

Where did tahr come from, and where do they live now?

Scientists place tahr in the goat and sheep subfamily, and a recent study suggests the Himalayan tahr is actually a wild goat. The English word tahr was first written down in 1835 and comes from a local name in the western Himalayas. Tahr were later introduced to New Zealand, where the herd now roams the Southern Alps after arriving in 1904. In their native range they are declining, so protecting mountain habitat matters for their future.

On the globe

Look for the model on steep mountain ground in the Himalaya, where this goat lives; the card shows the long reddish mane and short backward horns.