Tibetan antelope migration during mass calving as parasite avoidance strategy

Abstract

The Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii), or chiru, is an endemic animal of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau that lives in alpine meadow, grassland, and desert habitats at altitudes ranging from 4,100 to 5,200 m above sea level.1 Following near extinction toward the end of last century, the population has grown rapidly over the last couple decades and now is estimated at nearly 300,000 individuals (https://english.www.gov.cn/202108/23/content_WS6122f504c6d0df57f98deff8.html). The rapid recovery of Tibetan antelope populations is due in large part to the Chinese government’s strong emphasis on ecological protection and associated environmental policies and programs.