Details
Capra ibex
A wild goat of the Alps, specialized for cliffs and steep rocky slopes. Males are recognized by their long, backward-curving horns.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Alpine ibex live on high mountain cliffs, meadows, and slopes near the snowline. They use higher grasslands in summer and wind-exposed slopes in winter.
The body is sturdy, and adult males carry thick scimitar-shaped horns. Females are smaller with shorter horns, and winter coats are denser and darker.
They feed by day and often separate into female-young groups and male groups. Rocky terrain provides escape routes from predators and disturbance.
They graze alpine herbs and grasses and browse shrubs and lichens. Feeding sites shift with snowmelt and seasonal plant growth.
The rut occurs in winter, when males display size and horn strength. Females usually give birth to one kid in early summer.
Once reduced severely, the species recovered across the Alps through protection and reintroductions.
