As expected of the “elves” on the rock wall, the mountain goats’ climbing ability is truly amazing!

(The source of this issue’s material is photo.net)

On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there is an animal with a blue-gray body and black stripes on its limbs. It is a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and a national second-level protected wild animal. It is known as the "elf" on the rock wall. It is the blue sheep named for its ability to climb rock peaks.

Both male and female blue sheep have horns. Male sheep are strong and have thick and curved horns, while female sheep are smaller and have short and uncurved horns. They are a group animal and rarely act alone. Each year, female sheep only give birth to one baby. June to July is the time when blue sheep give birth to babies. After the baby is born, it can walk within two hours. Within ten days of birth, it can follow the mother to climb rocks. The mother sheep will take the baby with her until it grows up.

The blue sheep spends about 20 hours a day foraging for food, and their food is alpine desert plants such as wormwood, moss, and needle grass. They like to move around on high mountains and cliffs. The rocks and soil on the cliffs contain minerals that are indispensable for their metabolism - salt. Their hooves are very flexible and can hold the rocks tightly. They have a good sense of balance and can jump and run freely on steep terrain.

Snow leopards, jackals, wolves, and large birds of prey such as golden eagles are all natural enemies of blue sheep. The main natural enemy of blue sheep is the snow leopard, which will quietly approach the blue sheep and then suddenly attack. The blue sheep will fight back with its horns and hooves, and sometimes jump off the cliff to escape the pursuit of the snow leopard.

The blue sheep is a precious wild animal on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. To protect the blue sheep, we need to strengthen law enforcement, establish and expand nature reserves, strengthen scientific research, and enhance international and domestic cooperation. Let us pay attention to and protect the blue sheep so that they can continue to survive and reproduce on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.