Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, presents an environment of extreme challenges for any form of life. Its immense altitude brings about severely cold temperatures, drastically low oxygen levels, and relentless winds. Despite these formidable conditions, a surprising array of animal life has adapted to survive and even thrive across different elevations of this iconic mountain.
Animals of Everest’s Lower Slopes
Below the treeline, Mount Everest’s lower slopes feature a more hospitable landscape of forests, river valleys, and alpine meadows. These areas, extending up to approximately 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), support a relatively rich biodiversity. Here, the dense rhododendron and conifer forests provide shelter and food for various species.
One of the most recognizable inhabitants is the Himalayan tahr, a large wild goat that navigates the steep, rocky terrain with remarkable agility. Red pandas can be found foraging for bamboo in the temperate forests. Musk deer also inhabit these lower forested regions.
Birdlife is also abundant in these lower altitudes, with species like the Himalayan monal, a type of pheasant. Snow leopards, though wide-ranging, often frequent these lower slopes as their primary hunting grounds, preying on animals such as the tahr and musk deer.
Wildlife of the Extreme Heights
Above the treeline, the landscape of Mount Everest transforms into a barren, rocky, and icy wilderness, yet life persists even in these extreme heights. This zone, extending from around 4,500 meters (14,800 feet) up to the vicinity of the summit, demands highly specialized adaptations. Small mammals like the pika, a lagomorph, inhabit rocky outcrops, feeding on sparse vegetation.
The Himalayan jumping spider, Euophrys omnisuperstes, is observed at elevations exceeding 6,700 meters (22,000 feet). These tiny arachnids survive by preying on small insects blown up the mountain by winds. Birds are among the most common vertebrates seen at extreme altitudes.
Bar-headed geese are known for migratory flights over the Himalayas, often flying at altitudes of 5,000–6,000 meters (16,400-19,700 feet) or more, with some recorded as high as 7,290 meters (23,900 feet). Choughs, a type of crow, are frequently seen scavenging around Everest’s base camps and even higher. Even snow leopards occasionally venture above 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) in pursuit of prey.
How Life Endures at the Top of the World
Animals living on Mount Everest possess remarkable physiological and behavioral adaptations to cope with the severe conditions. A primary challenge is oxygen scarcity, which high-altitude animals overcome through specialized respiratory and circulatory systems. Bar-headed geese have highly efficient lungs and hemoglobin with a high affinity for oxygen.
To combat the extreme cold, many species have developed thick fur or plumage, providing excellent insulation. Animals like the pika and marmots engage in torpor or hibernation during the coldest periods. Behavioral adaptations include huddling for warmth or seeking shelter in rocky crevices.
Adapting to scarce food resources is another crucial survival strategy. Many high-altitude species are opportunistic feeders. Their efficient metabolisms also help them maximize energy extraction from their diets.