Himalayan Serow (Capricornis thar) was video-recorded in the Dalhousie catchment forests of Himachal Pradesh after a gap of nearly two decades

Himalayan Serow (Capricornis thar) was video-recorded in the Dalhousie catchment forests of Himachal Pradesh after a gap of nearly two decades

¨     Himalayan Serow (Capricornis thar) was video-recorded in the Dalhousie catchment forests of Himachal Pradesh on 4 August 2026 after a gap of nearly two decades.

¨     The sighting occurred in a forest landscape adjoining the Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Himalayas.

¨     It is the first confirmed visual documentation of the species from this landscape in over 20 years.

¨     The Himalayan Serow is a medium-sized ungulate found in the Himalayan region and parts of South and Southeast Asia.

¨     It belongs to the genus Capricornis, which includes serows, a group of goat-antelopes adapted to rugged terrain and forested slopes.

¨     The species is known for its dark coat, short horns, and preference for steep, rocky, and forested habitats.

¨     The Himalayan Serow is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

¨     Its population faces threats from habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, and hunting.

¨     In India, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, providing the highest level of legal protection.

¨     Earlier, a serow was sighted near Hurling village in Spiti around 25 December 2020.

¨     The Spiti sighting was considered unusual because serows are generally associated with forested Himalayan slopes and are not commonly found in high-altitude cold desert regions.