Dear nature lovers,

Greetings from oikos !

‘Ungulate’ means hoofed mammal (खूर असलेले), hoof = modified nail. There are about 35 species of even-toed ungulates in India while around 220 in World.

Mountain goats & sheep, from family Bovidae, needs a special mention in Ungulates. They live in extreme climates & most difficult terrains in rocky landscapes mainly in Himalay except the Nilgiri Tahr that is found in grassy meadows of Southern Western Ghats. Literally the ‘sure footed’ folks, they can climb almost vertical slopes. In Himalay, they mostly feed on scanty vegetation growing in crevices, having an important role in such food scarce landscapes.

Mountain goats & sheep found in India are Markhor, Takin, Himalayan Ibex, Serow, Goral, Argali, Urial, Bharal, Tahr (Himalayan & Nilgiri).

                The Bharal / Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur), locally known as Bharal, Bharar has largest distribution in
                Greater Himalayan meadows and trans-Himalayan regions from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.
                It is found in mountainous regions above treeline, open grassy or boulder-strewn ground and high cliffs.

                The Himalayan Ibex (Capra sibirica sakeen), locally known as Kail, Sakeen, Tangrol, is a large mountain
                goat. The male has beautiful thick, scimitar-shaped horns. It is found in trans-himalayan region in Ladakh
                & greater Himalayas in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh. It prefers areas above treeline around 3400
                to 5500 m, in alpine pastures, wet meadows, dry grassland areas & rarely in forests.

Living in tough landscapes, these are habitat specialist species, occupying a small geographical area and less studied. Hunting for their beautiful horns poses major threat to their numbers worldwide.

Regards,

Ketaki & Manasi

With Team oikos !