Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae

Himalayan Goral

Naemorhedus goral

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

Its greyish-brown coat with a dark stripe along the back camouflages it so well on Himalayan crags that it is very hard to spot, since it spends much of the day completely still.

Weight

22 kg – 42 kg

Size

81 cm – 1.3 m

Lifespan

14 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

MountainHerbivore Diurnal Solitary Near Threatened Mountain Mammal

8countries 21parks86same family

Fun facts

locomociónIt is a small mountain grazer that moves nimbly across steep crags, filling much the same niche as the European ibex.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rocky slopes and scrubby woodland of the Himalayan mountains, between 1,000 and 4,000 metres
Birth weight: ~2 kg
Size at birth: Able to follow its mother soon after birth, having spent several days hidden
Sexual maturity: ~3 years (physiologically earlier, but it rarely breeds before this age)
Gestation / incubation: 170-218 days (~6-7 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young (twins rare)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 17-19 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Wikipedia; Animal Diversity Web; AnAge; Animalia.bio; A-Z Animals; IVIS; Earthpedia; Alchetron

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: All year round on the steep slopes of the Himalaya; it is easiest to see at dawn and dusk, when it comes out to graze in the rocky clearings.