Bharal

Also known as Blue Sheep, Himalayan Blue Sheep, Naur

Bharal freeze completely still when alarmed, blending so seamlessly into grey scree and granite cliffs that observers often overlook entire herds standing just meters away. These agile mountain caprines live in social groups, grazing on alpine grasses during early morning and late afternoon while taking refuge on sheer precipices at mid-day. They form the ecological foundation of high Himalayan food webs, serving as the primary prey for snow leopards across their vast range.