Capricornis thar (Hodgson, 1831)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Bovidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-779 : 703

221.

Himalayan Serow

Capricornis thar

French: Serow de I'Himalaya / German: Nepal-Serau / Spanish: Sirao del Himalaya

Other common names: Nepalese Serow, Western Serow

Taxonomy. Antilope thar Hodgson, 1831 ,

Nepal.

Previously classified as a subspecies of C. sumatraensis . There 1s a very enigmatic, strongly red-colored serow, perhaps a new species, in the Garo, Mishmi, and Naga Hills (Assam, India), which has been mistaken for C. rubidus but is actually much closer to C. thar . Monotypic.

Distribution. S slopes of the Himalayas, from Kashmir (N India) in the W to Assam (NE India) in the E; possibly also in the Hill States of NE India.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-170 cm, tail 11.5-16 cm, shoulder height 90-100 cm; weight 85-140 kg. Male horn length 16-34 cm, male horn girth 10-15 cm. Prominent long ears and preorbital gland. Female horns have thinner horn girth. General body color dark black; paler underparts; creamy white legs below the knee. Coarse hair, a long mane mixed with black and white hairs, mid-dorsal stripe sometimesvisible.

Habitat. Himalayan Serows occur in precipitous areas where crevices and boulders afford security cover. Usually found in densely vegetated habitats including temperate broadleaf, coniferous, and subalpine forests, bamboo thickets, and thickly forested gorges. The Himalayan Serow occurs in Bhutan at elevations of 150-3500 m in subtropical broadleaf forest, and in Nepal at 2500-3500 m on slopes with a 20-40% gradient; it is not observed above 4000 m. Tall vegetation provides forage and thermal and security cover. Populations are disjunct.

Food and Feeding. Principally a browser.

Breeding. Mating is in October-November; typically, single young are born in May-June. Gestation is about 210 days.

Activity patterns. Usually diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Usually observed in small groups of less than ten. In Nepal, density is 1-2 ind/km?*. Maximum density is 2 ind/km?.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Surveys to determine population status and distribution are needed. In some areas probably locally common, but rugged terrain and tall vegetation make sighting animals difficult, which precludes assessing populations. Illegal hunting is probably mortality factor in areas adjacent to human settlements. Encroaching and existing agricultural development, uncontrolled tree cutting resulting in land degradation and fragmentation, and livestock competition are causes of declining populations. Domestic goats feed in rugged terrain, degrading habitats in areas not accessible to other livestock.

Bibliography. Akonda (1997), Aryal (2008, 2009a, 2009b), Duckworth et al. (2008), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1966), Fox & Johnsingh (1997), Gaston et al. (1983), Groves & Grubb (1985, 2011), Grubb (2005), Schaller (1977), Smith & Xie (2008), Wang Sung et al. (1997), Wangchuk et al. (2004), Wegge & Oli (1997), Wollenhaupt et al. (1997).

Figures

220. Sumatran Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), 221. Himalayan Serow (Capricornis thar), 222. White-maned Serow (Capricornis milneedwardsi), 223. Indochinese Serow (Capricornis maritimus), 224. Burmese Red Serow (Capricornis rubidus), 225. Japanese Serow (Capricornis crispus), 226. Formosan Serow (Capricornis swinhoei), 227. Muskox (Ovibos moschatus)

Distribution. S slopes of the Himalayas, from Kashmir (N India ) in the W to Assam (NE India ) in the E; possibly also in the Hill States of NE India .