Long-tailed Goral

About this species

Weight

22–32kg

Diet

Grasses, leaves, lichens, fruit and nuts

Habitat

Steep rocky mountains with evergreen or deciduous forest

Range

Korea, northeastern China and the Russian Far East

The long-tailed goral is a compact mountain bovid weighing roughly 22–32 kg and standing 55–80 cm at the shoulder. Both sexes bear backward-curving, sharply pointed horns, and the coat ranges from brownish grey to reddish. It occurs in Korea, northeastern China and the Russian Far East. Its sure-footed build suits cliffs and rocky slopes, while evergreen and deciduous forest provide adjacent shelter and forage (Animal Diversity Web).

Gorals browse and graze, taking grasses in warm months and leaves, lichens, fruit and nuts; in snow they uncover stems with the muzzle. Korean camera and sign surveys place them on steep forested slopes, often near streams. A Seoraksan study estimated 160–251 animals and recorded use of 35–60-degree slopes, especially at 600–700 m. Camera data recorded activity by day and night, while GPS studies describe small, stable home ranges (Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology 2015; Animal Diversity Web).

Description: Wildlife of Korea guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com)