Bharal

Bharal, species of wild sheep, member of the goat antelope subfamily, which inhabits only the high mountain ranges of western China, Nepal, and northern Pakistan. It frequents the grassy meadows and mountain slopes, and rarely descends below 3,000 m (10,000 ft). The animal is also called burrhel, burhal, nahur, and Himalayan blue sheep.

The bharal’s body is blue-gray with white underparts, and the two colors are separated by a lateral black stripe. The rams (males) stand about 90 cm (36 in) high at the shoulder and weigh from 59 to 73 kg (130 to 160 lb). They have smooth horns that spread outward and then turn backward with the tips turning inward. The ewes (females) rarely exceed 34 kg (75 lb) and have small, compressed horns.

Like all wild sheep, the bharal has sharp eyesight and a keen sense of smell. Flocks of bharal keep a sentry posted at a high vantage point. A suspicious occurrence will send this sentinel bounding from his post, and the flock will immediately retreat to the steep crags of the mountainous terrain.

Male and female bharals always live separately except during the short mating season, which begins in September. The lambs, usually twins, are born about 160 days after they are conceived.

Scientific classification: The bharal is a member of the subfamily Caprinae, family Bovidae. It is classified as Pseudois nayaur.