Bharal, The Blue Sheep

The bharal is a wild blue sheep of the Himalayas.

Bharal live on alpine meadows and rocky slopes at high altitudes.

Bharal belong to genus Pseudois and are closer to goats than sheep.

Two main subspecies exist: Himalayan and Chinese blue sheep.

Bharal measure 115 to 165 centimeters long from head to tail.

Weight ranges between 35 and 75 kilograms depending on sex.

Bharal fur is slate-grey with white underparts and dark chest.

Bharal mostly graze on grasses but browse shrubs when necessary.

Rutting takes place from late November to mid-January each year.

Snow leopards and Himalayan wolves hunt bharal where ranges overlap.

Bharal blend perfectly into the Himalayas with slate-grey fur.