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 Table Mountain National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Table Mountain National Park
Bontebok/Blesbok
Damaliscus pygargus
Common Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Klipspringer
Oreotragus oreotragus
Cape Grysbok
Raphicerus melanotis
Khama
Alcelaphus caama
Common Rhebok
Pelea capreolus
Bush Duiker
Sylvicapra grimmia
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
Springbok
Antidorcas marsupialis
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
Sambar
Rusa unicolor
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 Table Mountain National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Himalayan Tahr sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 86 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Himalayan Tahr in Table Mountain National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Himalayan Tahr in Table Mountain National Park in our monthly data.