Nemorhaedus goral (Himalayan brown goral)
Nemorhaedus goral – Ghoral in GHNP (Click to enlarge)
| Common name | Himalayan brown goral. |
| Latin name | Nemorhaedus goral Hardwicke 1825 |
| Local name | Ghoral. |
| IUCN/WPA/Indian status | Mujhathal WLS Himachal Pradesh |
| Social unit | Adult males are solitary but can associate with female groups especially for feeding |
| Size / weight | females form small groups of 2-3, very rarely 5-6 size. HBL: 82-120 cm. HAS: 60-70 cm. HL: 15-23 cm(male) Weight 35-42 kg (male). |
| Description | The brown goral is a small brown goat antelope. Shaggy, brownish grey in winter to a sleeker greyish brown in summer. I t has a white upper throat patch and white spots on its muzzle. Its horn are short, ridged and backward pointing, and thinner in females. A dark dorsal band extends to the tail. The under parts ate pale brown and the legs are bright brown with white flecking on the forelegs just above its black hooves. |
| Behavior | If alarmed , it stands its grounds, sneezing and hissing , and then bounds away in a zigzag course into scrub cover. |
| Distribution | Northern India, east of river Satluj along the Himalayas to Arunachal Pradesh, north ofg river Brahmaputra. |
| Habitat | Steep but grassy mountain slopes with low tree cover and moderate shrubs interspersed with cliffs .Avoids shrub growth above its shoulder height. Uses forest cover ., open gullies, cliffs and rocky areas for escape (400-4000 m). |
| Best seen | Mujhathal WLS Himachal Pradesh |