Chiru,or Tibetan antelope,have arrived for the winter rut.
In the energy-sapping thin air
The males must try to control groups of females
by constantly rounding them up and corralling them.
But the chiru have an advantage.
Their red blood cell count is twice as high as ours
Sufficient to supply their muscles with oxygen even at this extreme altitude.
Nevertheless,it's hard work keeping his harem in check
And the male's life is about to get even harder.
Another male is gearing up to steal his females.
With their rapier-like horns
The males won't risk fighting unless they really have to.
But if neither backs down,conflict is inevitable.
Some of these fights end in death.
While the males fence, the females look on.
Injured and weakened by the battle,the loser will be an easy target
for the predators and scavengers that patrol the wilderness.
Out here there's little room for mistakes.
[00:01.18]Chiru,or Tibetan antelope,have arrived for the winter rut.
[00:13.79]In the energy-sapping thin air
[00:16.06]The males must try to control groups of females
[00:19.21]by constantly rounding them up and corralling them.
[00:31.63]But the chiru have an advantage.
[00:34.37]Their red blood cell count is twice as high as ours
[00:38.57]Sufficient to supply their muscles with oxygen even at this extreme altitude.
[00:54.25]Nevertheless,it's hard work keeping his harem in check
[00:59.05]And the male's life is about to get even harder.
[01:03.64]Another male is gearing up to steal his females.
[01:10.31]With their rapier-like horns
[01:12.58]The males won't risk fighting unless they really have to.
[01:16.53]But if neither backs down,conflict is inevitable.
[01:33.07]Some of these fights end in death.
[01:38.17]While the males fence, the females look on.
[02:04.63]Injured and weakened by the battle,the loser will be an easy target
[02:09.04]for the predators and scavengers that patrol the wilderness.
[02:16.00]Out here there's little room for mistakes.