Himalayan Tahr: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Mountains and Deserts · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Tahr hooves have a soft, rubbery centre that grips slippery rock, and a tough rim that stands up to rough ground.
2. A thick, reddish wool coat with a dense undercoat keeps it warm. At winter's end the coat thins and turns paler.
3. Its horns, up to 46 cm long, curve backwards. That shape helps protect males from injury when they butt heads.
4. In the Himalayas it lives on slopes from 2,500 to 5,000 m, moving lower in winter when snow buries the plants up high.
5. Tahr usually live 14 or 15 years, and females tend to live longer than males.

The quiz

1. What helps a tahr's hooves grip smooth rock?

• Sharp claws on each toe
• Sticky hairs under the foot
• A soft, rubber-like core (correct)
• Suction cups on the heel

The rubbery core of the hoof grips smooth rocks.

2. What happens to the tahr's coat at the end of winter?

• It turns jet black
• It thins and gets lighter (correct)
• It grows twice as thick
• It becomes spotted

The coat thins and becomes lighter in colour as winter ends.

3. Why does the backward curve of the tahr's horns help males?

• It prevents injury when they butt heads (correct)
• It lets them dig up roots
• It helps them hear better
• It keeps snow off their eyes

The curved shape prevents injury during head-butting contests.

4. Where do tahr go in winter?

• Higher up, above 6,000 m
• Into caves to sleep until spring
• Down to the coast
• Down to lower slopes (correct)

When snow covers plants up high, they move to lower slopes.

5. How long does a Himalayan tahr usually live?

• About 2 years
• About 14 or 15 years (correct)
• About 50 years
• About 5 years

Its lifespan is typically around 14 or 15 years.

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