Himalayan Tahr
Hemitragus jemlahicus
Silhouette: [unknown] · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderArtiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates and Cetaceans)
- FamilyBovidae (Bovids)
- GenusHemitragus (Himalayan Tahrs)
- SpeciesHemitragus jemlahicus (Himalayan Tahr)
About the Himalayan Tahr
The Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) is a large even-toed ungulate native to the Himalayas in southern Tibet, northern India, western Bhutan and Nepal. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, as the population is declining due to hunting and habitat loss.
The Himalayan tahr has been introduced to Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. Tahr belong to the subfamily Caprinae in the order Artiodactyla. Their closest relatives in the subfamily Caprinae are sheep and goats.
A subspecies, the Eastern Himalayan tahr or shapi, was described in 1944. This classification is not considered valid anymore, and no subspecies are currently recognized. A recent phylogenetic analysis indicates that the genus Hemitragus is monospecific, and that the Himalayan tahr is a wild goat.
The word "tahr," first used in English writings in 1835, is derived from the animal's local name in the Western Himalayas, which has otherwise been rendered as "tehr," "tare" and "tahir". Through confusion with thār, a Nepali word for the Himalayan serow, it has also been spelled "thar."
The genus name Hemitragus is derived from the Greek words... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Himalayan Tahr in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Langtang National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 2 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Himalayan Tahr in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Himalayan Tahr sighting in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Himalayan Tahr in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Himalayan Tahr in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park in our monthly data.