The Himalayan tahrs of Table Mountain have always been a curious sight for hikers who enjoy exploring the trails in the area. Mostly because who wouldn’t shake their head in disbelief at a wild goat scaling a mountain, and two, because these goats are indigenous to the area they’re named after, and are mostly found in Northern India, Southern Tibet, China and Nepal.
So, what exactly are they doing in Cape Town? The shaggy mammals were first introduced in the 1930s to what was once known as the Groote Schuur Zoo. The zoo is said to have covered a large area of land, and included animals such as lions, crocodiles, emus and tahrs. While the zoo is no longer, the legacy of the tahrs live on and the population has flourished thanks to a number of factors, including the similarities that Table Mountain offer when compared to their natural Himalayan habitat and the fact that there are no snow leopards to hunt them.
Perhaps you’ve been one of the lucky few who have managed to spot one of these mountain dwellers trotting along the mountainside. If not, feast your eyes on an unbelievable video that Facebook user, Frank Kosi managed to capture during his hike between Hout Bay and Camps Bay.
The footage will have you biting your nails as a momma tahr shows her baby how to navigate the treacherous mountainside, jumping from an unbelievable height and landing safely.
Check out the nail-biting video below:
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