About the size of a large housecat, they live colonially and are fairly thick on the ground in the Upper Suru valley, from Ringdom Gompa, all the way across the Pensi pass and into Zanskar. There are 14 marmot species in the world, in fact the Vancouver Island Marmot is the rarest mammal in the North Americas. Arctomys himalayanus or the Himalayan Marmot is a distinct species, although it is closely related to the woodchuck, the hoary marmot and the yellow-bellied marmot. They eat grasses and flowering plants Marmots communicate by physical contact and vocally by whistling. Their most frequent call is a high-pitched whistle, warning colony members of danger.
Marmots adapt to non-threatening human activities and can become fairly tame and approachable.
For experienced hikers they are wonderful to photograph.