A Himalayan serow (Capricornis sumatraensis thar) has been sighted for the first time in the Hurling village in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh on December 11, 2020.
- This is the first recorded human sighting of the serow in Himachal Pradesh.
What is a Himalayan serow?
- A Himalayan serow resembles as a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.
- It’s a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.
- Taxonomically, it is a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
- There are several species of serows, and all of them are found in Asia.
- The Himalayan serow is restricted to the Himalayan region.
- Himalayan serows are herbivores, and are typically found at altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000 metres .
- They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in the Trans Himalayan region.
(Indian Express)
