Why in News?

Recently, the researchers analyzed the population of 1,000 snow leopards due to large numbers of bharal in the Sanjiangyuan region of China.

• Bharal – It is called as the Blue Sheep and native to the high Himalayas.
• Taxonomy:
  • Scientific name – Pseudois Nayaur.
  • Genus – Pseudois, where it is the only member.
• Distribution – Montane regions in the Himalayas and China (in Gansu, Ningxia, Sichuan, Tibet and Inner Mongolia).
  • India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

Bharal accounted over 80% of snow leopards food intake. Its density ranks among the world’s highest in Sanjiangyuan area of China’s Qinghai province, part of the Tibetan Plateau.

• Habitat – Open grassy slopes in high mountains and near cliffs.
• Morphology – Short, dense coat is slate grey in colour and bluish sheen, underparts and backs of legs are white, chest and fronts of legs are black. 
• Ears are small, nose is dark, horns are found in both sexes and are ridged on the upper surface. 

• Sexual dimorphism:
  • Males – Horns are grown upwards, turn sideways and curve backwards.
  • Females – Horns are much shorter and straighter.
• Behavior – They are active throughout the day, alternating between feeding and resting on the grassy mountain slopes.
• They adjust up to the precipitous cliffs, where they once again freeze, melting into the rock face.
• Threats:
  • Poaching for meat.
  • Competition with livestock.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Status – Least Concern (LC).
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972 – Schedule 1.

References

1. Down to Earth| High numbers of snow leopards due to large numbers of Bharal
2. Ultimate Ungulate| Bharal