Tibet can be separated in to three general areas – Central Tibet (U-Tsang), Kham Tibet (in the East) and Amdo Tibet (in the North-East of Tibet), which is mostly Qinghai province. The wildlife spread across these areas is different from region to region and these areas are vast and diverse in habitat and climate.
The Tibetan plateau is known as ‘the roof of the world’ because the plateau lies at an average altitude of 4500 meters (14760 feet). It is due to this unique environment that so many species of beautiful and uncommon wildlife have come to exist. The many wild animals range from peaceful herbivorous deer to carnivorous predators such as the brown bear.
The Tibetan antelope
Perhaps one of the better-known animals of Tibetan wildlife is the Tibetan antelope. This endangered animal became well known in China and Tibet after the release of the 2004 film Kekexili: Mountain patrol. Their numbers in the wild are rapidly diminishing and are estimated by the China Tibet Information Center to be approximately 75 000. The habitat of the Tibetan antelope spreads across central Tibet and Amdo Tibet (Qinghai province).
The Tibetan antelope is endangered due to illegal poaching for their soft white underbelly, which is worth more than gold. Apart from illegal human hunting, they are also the prey of the Himalayan black bear and wolves. The males fight aggressively with each other to protect their harem by using their 60 cm (2 feet) long, sharp horns. Females do not possess these horns and therefore the Tibetan antelope’s gender is easily distinguishable.
Wild Tibetan yak
Tibet is home to most of the world’s yak population and most of these are domestic nomadic and farm animals. Besides these domestic yaks there is also a small and vulnerable population of wild yaks. These large beasts can stand up to 2 meters (>6 feet) high and weigh up to 1 tonne.
The main threats to wild Tibetan yaks are domestication and Tibetan wolves. Wild yaks are spread right across the Tibet Autonomous Region, Amdo Tibet (Qinghai province) and Gansu province. Yaks do not like low altitude and for someone who has never seen one, they are best described as a high altitude woolly cow.
The Himalayan musk deer
The Himalayan musk deer is a rare and protected species of deer. Musk deer is hunted all over the world for its gland secretions that produce the fragrant musk scent. The musk deer’s gland is harvested and dried in the sun. In some Tibetan areas, Tibetan locals have sometimes managed to tame some of these wild deer.
The word musk comes from the Sanskrit word ‘muska’, which means scrotum and this is because the desired gland comes from the male musk deer and looks like his scrotum. This is not the sort of information a woman wants to know when she is given musk perfume on a special occasion.
The Himalayan marmot
Marmots are like large ground squirrels that live in holes in the ground. They hibernate in winter and have a diet of grass, roots and berries during the summer. The Chinese call this Himalayan marmot a snow pig. This animal is naturally a social creature and they call out to each other in times of distress by whistling.
These cute animals are quite shy of humans due to being hunted for their meat and fur. The style in which the marmot sits looks like he is praying and therefore many Tibetans believe them to be a holy animal. The marmot is a dangerous animal, but for an unexpected reason – they carry the pneumonic plague! This plague can be passed to humans but outbreaks are very rare.
Birds in Tibet
Birds exist in abundance on the Tibetan plateau. Tibetan white-eared pheasants are beautiful birds and on some monastery grounds are quite tame because they are not hunted in those places. Himalayan Griffins are famous in Tibet and out because these are the vultures that eat the bodies during a sky burial. Owls, eagles, cuckoo birds, woodpeckers, falcons and many more interesting birds live on the Tibetan plateau.
Other noteworthy Tibetan wildlife includes black bears, the Himalayan brown bear, wolves, foxes and the snow leopard. The red fox of Tibet is endangered which is only a problem to the regional food chain, as they exist in abundance throughout the rest of the world. The snow leopards are not in such a fortunate position. Their numbers continue to dwindle and although numbers are unknown, Andrew Garman thinks they could be as low as 4500.
Tibetan wildlife yet to be discovered
Traveling to Tibet can be a very worthwhile experience. Getting ‘off the beaten track’ in Tibetan areas is exciting and exhilarating. Seeking out Tibetan wildlife for study or photography can be particularly rewarding. There is much unknown about many species of Tibetan wildlife and there is a strong possibility that there are many species yet to be discovered.
References:
Garman, A. Snow Leopard, 1997, accessed at agarman.dial.pipex.com/snowlep January 2011
China Tibet information center, Tibetan antelopes, accessed at tibetinfor.com/tibetzt-en/antelope/menu January 2011
Rhys Emmanuel - Living and doing development work as a medical professional in Asia has given me unique insight into many areas of life and work and a ...
