June 12, 2023
By Sonakshi Kandhari
‘Survival of the Fittest’ is a prerequisite for inhabitants of the mountains. This holds true even for mountain animals; hence, they are moulded to adapt to their environment. Being able to walk at higher elevations, sustain themselves at high altitudes and breathe in the thin air are a few of the many difficulties that they embrace. Discover these 10 animals that call the mountains their home.
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Meaty enough to seek heat from their own body’s warmth. This bear gets through the winters without much difficulty because it slips into a deep slumber by hibernating. Being able to live as high as 16,400 feet, they are equipped with indomitable power to silence their enemies with a spat across their neck.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
This wild goat has two coats, not just one. They shed their outer, thick coats in the summer months. Apart from this, even their hooves make surviving in the mountains easier. The edge of their hoof is lined with a hard surface, while the interior midsection is soft. Hence, they can cover long distances in a short span of time.
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Living at the world’s highest altitude, this mammal protects itself from the harsh mountains with its thick coat. They weigh 550 kilograms. Apart from yak safaris, they also assist with tasks like ploughing fields and carrying burdens. Their blood is of medicinal value, and their milk is highly nutritious too. As per Tibetan mythology, they are also called ‘messengers of God’.
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Comfortably embracing an altitude of 17,100 feet, the Tibetan Sand Fox lives in India, Nepal, Western China and Ladakh. In times of trouble, there is a possibility of them teaming with the mighty brown, but they are self-sufficient as well. With their quick reflexes and exceptional hearing abilities, they can hear their prey even before seeing it. Lizards, mammoths and hares are their main food sources.
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Their survival mechanism in the mountains involves digging a burrow that is 30 feet deep under the ground. The Himalayan marmot spends six months in the burrow and six months outside the burrow. Having four clawed toes makes digging burrows easy for them.
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An endemic of the Tibetan Plateau, Kiangs are the world's largest wild asses. Feeding primarily on grass, this animal is so mindful that they plan their offspring on the basis of food availability, which is abundant between July and August. Also exhibiting kinship, you will find that they live in a group of 400. Their only threat is wolves.
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Better known as Tibetan antelopes, they can sustain even the most inhospitable environments with their characteristics. Equipped with a thick, warm woollen undercoat, keeping warm is no challenge. Along with this, they even have air sacs in their nostrils, which makes it easier for them to breathe at a high elevation, allowing them to live without a hitch at a height of 18,000 feet.
Image Source: Envanto Elements
Often mistaken for the Tibetan antelope, this one is entirely different. Being able to sustain themselves at a height of 18,900 feet is possible because of their physical characteristics. Their long ears assist with the passage of excess heat, and their long hooves enable them to run at a speed of 43 miles per hour. But despite their adaptability, their numbers are dangerously low.
Image Source: Envanto Elements
The world’s highest flying bird can build its nest at a staggering height of 21,300 feet. These birds scale heights and withstand the strong wind with their powerful wings. It is not uncommon to find them resting on a rock. Another aspect that makes mountain life easier is that their eggs have fewer pores, as a result of which they require less water.
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It's a sight to behold while it retreats to the forest in the winter months and is found in the mountains during the summers. With their thick coats and paws, which are similar to snowshoes, they are well suited to mountain living. Also known as the long-haired Asian cat, it can be found in 12 countries, of which India is one.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons