Himalayan Marmot

You will probably immediately fall in love with these animals once you see them. They are chubby little guys who are found throughout the Himalayas. They are one of the largest species of marmots in the world. They have a thick fur which is characteristic of all marmots and they are chocolate brown in color. There are contrasting yellow patches on its face and chest. The thick fur helps them withstand the cold harsh climates of the Himalayas. Their hind limbs are longer than the front limbs and each foot has four clawed toes. Marmots have a very short alarm call, less than a second. But they come in a series of quickly uttered sounds. When disturbed, one or more sit up on their haunches to look around. When they scent danger they utter a loud whistling scream which sends their comrades headlong into shelter. The Himalayan Marmots live in extended family units which may join together to form colonies, the size of which depends on the resources available. In some cases, a colony can contain up to 30 families. And these guys dig unusually deep burrows to hibernate in winter. Marmots live primarily on a diet of herbaceous plants and grasses, and the Himalayan Marmot is no exception, eating the soft, juicy developing shoots. However, this species may also eat fruit or grain from time to time if they are available as well as roots and the leaves of plants.