Overview
Very similar to the Chinese blue sheep, but 10-20 percent larger. It also has a lighter coat, being buffy- brown. The facial mask is lighter brown. The sides of the face are whitish, while the sides of neck are light buff. The horns of this sheep grow outward horizontally, with al ittle downward curve, then turn backward with the tips inclined upward.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Psuedois
- Species
- Pseudois nayaur
Habitat
Found at very high altitudes. Distribution- Himalayan region of northeastern Pakistan, northwestern India, Nepal and Bhutan; scattered populations throughout Tibet; southern Xinjiang and western Qinghai (China); and extreme northwestern Yunnan (China) west of the Jinsha (Yangtse) river. Boundaries with the Chinese blue sheep to the east are unclear.
Diet
Primarily a grazer but will browse when necessary.
Behavior
These sheep are active throughout the day, alternating between feeding and resting on the grassy mountain slopes.
Hunting
Even though the Himalayan blue sheep are listed in countries other than Nepal, for all practical purposes Nepal is the only country to hunt this animal currently. None of the others presently allow hunting for this species but Pakistan is considering issuing permits.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. More information is needed on population size, distribution, and conservation efforts.