High-altitude animals
There is life even in the highest reaches of the Himalayas, although food is scarce. Lammergeier or bearded vultures soar above the high valleys here. But a sign of serious altitude is the presence of snowcocks. Their dappled grey and white plumage is good camouflage against the snow which can fallen even in the summer at these altitudes. They forage for seeds and roots in the thin turf. There are no trees here, just a few shrubs and some dried withered grass but that is enough for the tahr which - despite its looks - is neither a true sheep nor a true goat. It is actually related to them both and will eat anything that is green. Another typical mountain creature to be found at this altitude is the red-billed chough which is a kind of crow. They search the rocks for insects, grubs, and odd seeds. Their cousins, the yellow-billed choughs, go as high as any bird in the world, riding the wind currents to the snow peaks themselves.
Duration:
This clip is from
Featured in...
91热爆 Nature
Be captivated, informed and inspired by the world's wildlife.
More clips from The Building of the Earth
-
Attenborough on basalt lava
Duration: 04:18
-
Bare necessities
Duration: 01:25
-
Valley life
Duration: 03:31
-
Black smokers
Duration: 01:27
More clips from The Living Planet
-
Ocean Drifters—Worlds Apart
Duration: 01:20
-
Snare of silk—The Baking Deserts
Duration: 01:48
-
Furnace flora—The Baking Deserts
Duration: 03:46
-
Ships of the desert—The Baking Deserts
Duration: 03:17