High altitude wild animals at threat ?

High altitude environment of Himalayan region

By Dr Ramesh Behera
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          The high altitude environment has its own climatic complex of low atmospheric pressure,     atm ospheric cold, atmospheric aridity, light, snow cover, and also microclimate. The high-altitude areas pose threat to wildlife,threatened high-elevation mammal,  Multiple threats to Himalayan biodiversity, Other Threats and also feeling the impacts of climate change. High altitude environment of Himalayan region:- The Himalay, by prudence of its area and staggering level, goes about as an extraordinary climatic separation and manages meteorological circumstances in the subcontinent districts of South Asia. In any case, the related intricacies and their belongings are yet to be set out to figure out the meteorology of the Indian Himalayan District (IHR). In this audit volume, we combine the outcomes and derivations of a few examinations did in the IHR involving in situ information, somewhat detected information, and model-based meteorological perceptions. Results give experiences int
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Himalayan Ibex/ Can Ibex be Domesticated

By Dr Ramesh Behera

 Family-Bovidae

Sp.-Capra ibex sibirica   

Altitude- 3500-6710 m 

    Recently study by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has made that Himalayan Ibex is being distributed in the trans-Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir.



Distinctive Characters-

    This is a most beautiful species weighing about 90 kg, sturdy and thich set goat has sweeping horns curved backwards.It is about the same height as a markhor but less squat. The matured male ibex has a strong smell of goatish and a coat of strong brittle hairs. However many colour variations are found. The winter coat is smooth, yellowish-white and the summer coat is short with dark brown general hue and irregular white patches. The long scimitar shape horns of the male are flat, curved backward,1-1.5 cm in length and bossed with bold ridges in front.

    The female colour is yellowish brown or fawn coloured with a brown line from nape to tail. However the female is slightly smaller than male with only 30 cm length of horn. 

Distribution-

    It is distributed in the trans-Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. It has  also been found in Europe and China.



Habits –

    They prefer to live in suitable habitats above the tree line. These animals do not descend in winter to to the lower valleys because they are little affected by cold due to their protecctive investitureof dense underwool. In spring the ibex is found below the snow line , attracted by the new grass sprouting in patches on the steep slopes of the nallahs. Grazing take place in the morning and again inthe evening but usually on sunny days.

Reproduction-

    The mating take place during the winter and one or two kids are born in May or June.(gestation period of 147 to 180 days)

    However the ibex is now an endangered species. Poaching has cosiderably decimated its population in may parts of the Himalaya.It is killed for its valuable commercial products like hide and underwool as well as its tender meat.

1.Can ibex and goats breed?

Alpine ibex Capra ibex ibex of both sexes can hybridise with domestic goats Capra aegagrus domestica in captivity .

2.Can Ibex be domesticated? 

An ibex raised from a young age could potentially be domesticated. However, the ibex is not a practical domestic animal.

Being a veterinary doctor I have treated so many house keeping animals and birds in my life including wild animals and birds.

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