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FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The tahr is a wild goat species, endemic to the Himalayan ranges of Tibet, India, and Nepal. They were introduced to New Zealand, South Africa, and North America, mainly for hunting purposes. There are three distinct species of the genus Hemitragus, the Himalayan tahr, the Nilgiri tahr, and the Arabian tahr of Oman. The males are larger than the females.
The Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) is reddish-brown in color, the Nigiri tahrs of southern India are dark brown, while the smallest of the three species, the Arabian tahr is a beautiful blond. The Arabian tahr exists in small populations, covering a small area of the United Arab Emirates. All three species of tahrs are Near Threatened according to the IUCN Red List, mainly because of excessive hunting and habitat loss. Keep on reading to learn more about intriguing tahr facts.
If you liked reading this article, check out mountain sheep facts and the mountain goat facts here on Kidadl!
A tahr is a wild goat species that belongs to the family Bovidae.
The tahr belongs to the class Mammalia, just like sheep and African elephants.
Although there is no record of the number of tahrs found in the world, these species of wild goat are considered to be highly Endangered because of excessive hunting.
The Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) resides in the alpine forests of the Himalayas in Tibet, India, and Nepal. The Nilgiri tahrs are found in the southern parts of India, while the Arabian tahrs are endemic to northern Oman. They were also introduced to New Zealand, South Africa, and North America.
Tahrs generally prefer alpine forests of the elevated mountain ranges, with lush green vegetation and rocky terrain.
Tahrs live in a herd of 10-15 individuals and lead a communal life.
The average lifespan of a Himalayan tahr ranges from 10-14 years in the wild and up to 21 years in captivity.
The tahr is a polygamous animal and the males are competitive in nature. During the breeding season, the male tahr engages in duals with other males, to gain authority over the females. They undergo sexual reproduction with a gestation period of six to eight months, after which the females deliver a single baby.
The tahr is listed as a Near Threatened species by the IUCN Red List.
Tahrs are furry and resemble goats. These animals have thick curvy black horns. They have short legs and keratinized hooves. These hooves are flexible with the hard outer layer, which helps them with a smooth grip. They have small heads with short ears. The male Himalayan tahrs possess a silky mane with abundant fur.
Tahrs look cute, however, their thick horns can appear to be quite intimidating.
Himalayan tahrs, as well as other tahr species, communicate using whistling cries, with which they alert other animals of any potential danger.
The length of a Himalayan tahr is about 36-60 in (91-152 cm) and their height is 24-42 in (60-106 cm), similar to the Barbary sheep.
No information is available on the speed of tahr.
The weight of a Himalayan tahr is about 176 lb (80 kg).
There are no sex-specific names given to the male and female species of tahr.
A baby tahr is called a kid.
Their diet includes plants, mostly grass and leaves.
These animals produce their characteristic whistling calls to alarm other animals, which appear to be loud in the hilly forests.
Tahrs are not suitable pets because of their thick coat and strong horns. They prefer dense forest vegetation in the hilly areas where their body has adapted to the climate. Their shiny mane and furry coat help them to regulate their body temperature in the cold climate. Further, their declining population has made it against the law to hold them captive.
The Duke of Bedford offered 14 Himalayan tahrs to the New Zealand Government in 1904.
Tahrs eat throughout the daytime, during which they are most active.
The tahr animal of New Zealand can be eaten because they taste just like goats. Leopard, tiger, and wolves are their natural predators.
There are fewer than 2000 tahrs left in the world.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our takin facts, or plains zebra facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable sheep coloring pages.
<p>Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.</p>
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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