Himalayan Goral

About this species

Size

Length 95–130cm

Weight

35–42kg

Diet

Leaves and softer plant parts, mainly grasses

Habitat

Himalayan slopes, most commonly at 900–2,750m

Range

Himalaya from Pakistan through Nepal and Bhutan to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh

The Himalayan goral, or grey goral, is a bovid of the Himalaya with a grey or grey-brown coat, tan legs, lighter throat patches and a single dark stripe along the spine. Both sexes have backward-curving horns up to 18 cm long. It is 95–130 cm long and weighs 35–42 kg, is very agile and can run quickly. Gorals differ from the related serows in having no preorbital glands below the eyes (Wikipedia, general species account).

It occurs in the Himalaya from Pakistan through Nepal, Bhutan and southern Tibet to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in India, and possibly western Myanmar, most commonly at 900–2,750 m. It is crepuscular and rests on a rock ledge through the day, feeding on leaves and softer plant parts, mainly grasses. Small groups of four to twelve are usual, and older males are solitary. Group home ranges are around 40 ha, and the Himalayan wolf is a notable predator (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)