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Himalayan Blue Sheep

The Himalayan Blue Sheep or Bharal (Pseudois nayaur) is a caprid found in the high Himalayas of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and Pakistan.

This medium-sized sheep is 45 to 65 inches long along the head-and-body, standing 27 to 36 inches high at the shoulder. Body mass can range from 77 to 165 lbs. Males are slightly larger than females. The short, dense coat is slate grey in color, sometimes with a bluish sheen. The under parts and backs of the legs are white, while the chest and fronts of the legs are black. Separating the grey back and white belly is a charcoal colored stripe. The ears are small, and the bridge of the nose is dark. The horns are found in both sexes, and are ridged on the upper surface. In males, they grow upwards, then turn sideways and curve backwards, looking somewhat like an upside-down moustache. They may grow to a length of 31 inches. In females, the horns are much shorter and straighter.

Himalayan Blue Sheep are active throughout the day, alternating between feeding and resting on the grassy mountain slopes. Due to their excellent camouflage and the absence of cover in their environment, they remain motionless when approached. Once they have been noticed, however, they scamper up to the precipitous cliffs, where they once again freeze, using camouflage to blend into the rock face. They are the favored prey of snow leopards.