Goral

Conservation Status:
Endangered
CITES Appendix 1

Description:
Goral stand 25-28 inches at the shoulders and weigh up to 65 pounds.  Their horns curve backwards and are marked by small, irregular ridges.  Both males and females have horns.  Their hair can be a range of colors, from gray to reddish brown.  They have a dark stripe down the back and a white throat patch.

Range:
High-altitude parts of Siberia , Thailand , Burma , and the Himalayas

Habitat:
Dry, rocky, mountainous regions

Diet:
In the wild, they eat branches, acorns, low shrubs, and grass.  In the zoo, they eat ADF-16 pellets, grass hay, and alfalfa hay.

Life Cycle:
The breeding season ranges from September to November, and gestation is about 6 months.  They usually have a single young, but twins are possible.  They reach maturity when they are 3 years old.  In captivity, one Goral lived 17 years and 7 months.

Did You Know?

·        Goral are sometimes called “goat antelopes”.  They have the muzzle of an antelope, and the general appearance, smell, and climbing ability of a goat.

·        They are known for their climbing agility, and their ability to gallop along steep slopes with breathtaking speed.  Their sure-footedness gives them an advantage over their predators on steep mountain slopes. 

·        They are very well camouflaged, and can stand on rocky lookouts without being seen.

·        They live in small groups, feeding in the morning and evening.  Older males may live alone.

·        When frightened, they make a hissing or sneezing sound.

·        Goral have often been hunted for sport.  As an endangered species, they are now protected in most countries where they are hunted.

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