91Èȱ¬

For the bharal, or blue sheep, winter is a testing time. The scattered greenery of summer has long gone, and they must dig in the scree for the roots of herbs and grasses. Some animals even climb trees to find food. Far to the west of Ladakh, on Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, we find the magnificent markhor. December is the time of the rut. Males battle for the females’ favours. With his tongue, he tastes the females’ scent. This is a rare and privileged glimpse. Markhor can't withstand exteme cold, so they have to winter on the lower slopes. That can bring them into conflict with people. Only a few hundred survive.