Himalayan Tahr

Found in steep, rocky terrain between 2,500 and 5,000 metres, these sure-footed ungulates graze on grasses, shrubs, and herbaceous plants along cliff faces and alpine meadows, often forming small herds led by older females. Scan exposed rocky outcrops and south-facing slopes for their distinctive reddish-brown coats and the males' thick, shaggy neck manes; listen for the clatter of dislodged scree as they move across loose rock, which often betrays their presence before you spot them. Although primarily active around dusk and dawn given their nocturnal tendencies, the best viewing opportunities come in the dry winter months from November through February, when reduced vegetation and lower snowlines push animals onto more accessible terrain — use binoculars along ridge lines in the early morning light before they retreat to shaded ledges.