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The high life

The little Himalayan panda is a tree-climber that's well protected from the cold by dense fur and hair on the soles of its feet. This keeps its feet warm in the snow, stops it slipping around on ice, and - in the summer - helps it cling on to slippery branches. Primarily a vegetarian, these red pandas also eat eggs when they can find them. On the ground, one of the shyest animals here are musk deer. Since they are often under low trees, they have no antlers as antlers would only be a handicap in the tangled branches. Instead of fighting with antlers, the males fight using the tusks in their upper jaw. They feed on moss, lichen and leaves, and are so agile that they can climb steep cliffs in search of food. When any large animal here dies, griffon vultures gather to dispose of the body. Griffon vultures are common here up to seven or eight thousand feet.

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