English: Blue Sheep or Bharal; French: Bharal; Bothia: nao, knao, Chinese: Yan-yang; Hindi: bharal, bharar, bharut; Ladakhi: na, sna; Nepali: Bharal, Naur, nervati; Pashto: Odi, Gada; in Sutley Valley: Wa, War; Tamil: nila malayatu; Tibetan: Luk Ngonpu; Urdu: Bharal.
Former distribution: As now.
Present distribution: China; Xizang (Tibet), Gansu (Kansu), Sichuan (Szechwan), Shaanxi (Shensi); Kashmir, Nepal, Sikkim.
Behaviour: Preferred habitat in mountains with grassy slopes above the tree line at altitudes between 3600 and 5000 m. Gregarious in herds of 10-50; activity predominantly diurnal, mainly grasses. Predators include wolves, snow leopards and dholes.
Population status: Stable.
Brief notes:
Body weight: 55-73 kg
Head and body length: 130-140 cm
Tail length: 15-20 cm
Shoulder height: 80-90 cm
Gestation period: 160 days
Maximum age: Up to 24 years
Trophy: Record SCI: 140 4/8 score, 1979, Dr. GEORGE ENGEL. RW’s: 28 7/8″, 1946 India, E.T. GATES; average 11″.
Hunting methods: Stalking, with beaters.
Subspecies: 3
1. Southern Blue Sheep Pseudois n. nayaur Kashmir, Nepal, Sikkim, Xizang (Tibet). Stable.
2. Northern Blue Sheep Pseudois n. szechuanensis China; Sichuan (Szechwan), Shaanxi (Shensi), Gansu (Kansu). Stable. Trophy: Record RW’s: 26 1/2″, 1909. Ta-chi-li, M. MITCHELL; average 11″.
3. Blue Sheep, Dwarf Bharal Pseudois n. schaeferi China; central Sichuan, Drupalung. Stable. Estimated numbers: No records.
Remarks: Blue Sheep are still abundant in all distribution areas and can be hunted without any restriction. The Dwarf Bharal was first recognized by HALTENORTH (1963); a small Blue Sheep with data as body weight 28-39 kg and
Shoulder height 70-80 cm.
