The animals of the Himalayas
Meet the creatures accustomed to life in these mountains
(Image credit: Glorious Himalaya Trekking Pvt Ltd/ Pixabay)
Red panda
The distinctive red panda is most common in the eastern areas of the Himalayas, such as Nepal, China and Bhutan. As the majority of their lives are spent climbing tree branches, this panda is found lower in the Himalayas where tree life is supported. (Image credit: Pexels/Pixabay)
Snow leopard
These leopards are accustomed to the snowy regions of the Himalayas. If you can see past their camouflaged coat, they can be spotted high up in the mountains. One of their key characteristics helping them move swiftly on the area’s uneven ground is their long, thick tail, used for balance. (Image credit: Marcel Langthim/ Pixabay)
Yak
Widespread across the Himalayan region, the yak is most similar to the cow or buffalo. Today the animal is mainly domesticated, and their strength is often used as a form of transport for goods across the mountainous land. Covered in long hair, yaks are adapted to live in cold climates at high altitudes. (Image credit: Simon Steinberger/Pixabay)
Himalayan monal
The Himalayan monal, also known as the danphe, is Nepal’s national bird. Vibrant in their rainbow feather display, these animals are like a cross between a pheasant and a peacock. Usually the birds can be seen among the trees and the shrubland between 2,100 to 4,500 metres high. (Image credit: Pixabay/ User 272447)
Himalayan black bear
The location of this rare Asian black bear subspecies changes with the season. During the summer months they can adventure to heights of 3,000 metres, but come winter they remain at half this height in the more comfortable tropical areas of Tibet, Nepal, China and India. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/ flowcomm)
Himalayan tahr
The tahr have adapted to the steep rock faces of the Himalayas. Their dense coats change thickness with the temperature and their flexible hooves make them better climbers than similarly built goats. Unfortunately these animals have suffered a loss in numbers due to hunting and habitat loss from increased human population. (Image credit: Pixabay/ Markéta Machová)
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