The ecology and feeding behaviour of the himalayan the (hemitragus jemlahicus) in the Langtang valley, Nepal

Abstract

Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) were studied for thirteen months in the upper Langtang Valley, Nepal, between 3,500mand 4,600m. Two populations, numbering about.170 and 50 goats, each2occupied areas of 7km. Both populations appeared to be reproducing-2well. Density varied between 5 and 46 animals km depending on habitat and the amount of competition with livestock. Mean group size was 14.8, based on a total of 239 sightings. The largest number of animals seen together was 77. Groups mainly consisted of adult males or adult females and juveniles (both sexes), except during the rut when groups of mixed sex and age categories predominated. Adult females and juveniles maintained the same home ranges throughout the year; they often migrated about 700m vertically every day. Adult males tended to range laterally. Over the year an average of 70% of daylight hours were spent feeding, but adult males spent significantly less time feeding than adult females and juveniles during the rut. Animals fed most intensively in the early morning and late afternoon and rested around midday. This pattern of daily activity varied seasonally with day- length. Juveniles showed more aggression than adults of either sex; adult females were antagonistic during courtship; adult males were never seen fighting each other. The rut lasted, from about November until mid-February; most mating probably occurred in December. Young were born between mid-June and mid-July. The diet was investigated by faecal analysis. The mean composition of the faeces over the year was 34% grasses, 21% sedges, 27% dicotyledons, 4% ferns, 4% mosses and 11% unknown species, but there were significant seasonal differences. Although domestic animals competed with tahr for grazing grounds certain rugged terrain, inhabited by tahr, was inaccessible to livestock... Thus, conservation measures are not considered to be necessary in the immediate future.