IBEX - THE MOUNTAIN GOATS - NATURE'S DAREDEVILS
IBEX - THE MOUNTAIN GOATS - NATURE'S DAREDEVILS
Alpine Ibex - Masters of the Mountain Peaks | Gravity Defying Wild Goats
The Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) is found in the European Alps.
Alpine ibex are found in France, Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Slovenia, and have been introduced to ranches in the United States, Canada and Argentina.
Ibex are a group of wild mountain goat species (genus Capra) renowned for their long, backwards-curved horns and unmatched agility in scaling steep, rocky, and snowy precipices. Found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, they are herbivorous, social animals that use high-altitude, rugged, and almost vertical terrain to evade predators.
Rock-Climbing Goats
When
firearms spread in the 15th century, the large population of ibex that
spanned many of Europe's mountains decreased as they became easy targets
for hunters. The ibex was often hunted for its meat, with other body
parts used for medicine. The ibex horns were highly sought after as a
remedy for impotence, while its blood was used for treating kidney stones.
The relentless hunting of the alpine ibex might have led to its extinction were it not for the foresight of the dukes of Savoy. Charles-Felix, Duke of Savoy and King of Sardinia, banned the hunting of the ibex across his estates of the Gran Paradiso after being persuaded by a report on the animal's endangered state. The ban was implemented on 12 September 1821, and its law was soon extended to the rest of the kingdom. In 1856, Victor Emmanuel II, succeeding Charles-Felix as the king, inducted the Gran Paradiso as a protected hunting estate, along with appointing gamekeepers to patrol the area.
Wild Goats That Defy Gravity on Steep Cliffs.
Ibex, any of several sure-footed, sturdy wild goats of the genus Capra in the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla) that are found in the mountains of Europe, Asia, and northeastern Africa.
The European, or Alpine, ibex (C. ibex ibex) is typical. Adult males weigh around 100 kg (220 pounds), while females are about 50 kg (110 pounds). Males stand about 90 cm (3 feet) at the shoulder (females are about 10 cm [4 inches] shorter) and have brownish to grey fur, which is darker on the underparts. The male has a beard and large, semicircular horns with broad, transversely ridged front surfaces. The European ibex lives at altitudes near the snow line and descends to lower altitudes in winter. It lives in exclusively male or female herds, but very old males are often solitary. Formerly common throughout the western and central Alps, C. ibex ibex is now greatly reduced in numbers. It is protected locally in the Italian Alps and has been reintroduced to France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.
Key Characteristics and Biology:
Species: Major types include the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), and.- Horns: Males possess large, ridged, scimitar-shaped horns (up to 3 feet long), used for combat and indicating age, while females have smaller, shorter horns.
- Physical Adaptation: They have specialized hooves with a hard outer edge and a soft, rubbery inner pad for gripping, along with muscular bodies for jumping.
- Size: Males can weigh up to 100 kg (220 lbs) and stand 80–100 cm tall, while females are significantly smaller.
Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), a stocky North American ruminant of the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla). Surefooted relatives of the chamois, mountain goats cling to steep cliffs in habitats ranging from ocean shores to glaciated mountain tops. They are agile, methodical climbers, adapted to the insecure footing of snow-covered and icy cliffs, where predators are loath to follow. The predators are mainly wolves, bears, and the hunters. On these cliffs, they readily turn on their pursuers, including humans.
Most of the world’s mountain goats are found in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia.
The mountain goat, also known as the Rocky Mountain goat, is a cloven-footed mammal that is endemic to the remote and rugged mountainous areas of western North America. A sub-alpine to truly alpine species, it is a sure-footed climber commonly seen on sheer rock faces, near-vertical cliffs and icy passages.
The mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) is the single North American representative of a unique group of mountain ungulates called the Rupicaprinae, or “rock goats.” They are characterized by having relatively short horns and a fondness for living in rugged terrain. Mountain goats are one of two species of all-white, hoofed, large mammals found in Alaska.
Mountain goat found in Alaska
The horns of an average adult female are equal in length to those of an average adult male, but are more slender and bend back more sharply at the tip. Mountain goat hooves are specially designed for climbing in steep, rocky, and slippery terrain. A close-up look reveals a hard keratinous sheath and a soft embedded pad that enable goats to gain purchase on the smallest of granite cracks while simultaneously gripping maximum surface area.
Mountain goats are among the most charismatic species and inhabit one of the most spectacular landscapes on earth.
Usually, a single kid is born in mid-late May after a gestation period of approximately 180 days. Twinning occurs rarely. Nannies seek out rugged, isolated sites before giving birth, but soon join other nannies with newborn kids to form nursery groups. Kids remain with their mothers until the next breeding season and often for some years beyond. Interestingly, mountain goats will not give birth until they are 4 years of age; this is quite old compared to female moose, black-tailed deer, and caribou. Mountain goats may live up to 18 years, but most live less than 12.
Relative to other wildlife species, mountain goats are particularly sensitive to industrial disturbance activities such as helicopter overflights and blasting. In coastal Alaska, helicopter tourism (flight-seeing in summer, helicopter skiing in winter) is an increasingly popular activity and management agencies are particularly concerned about its effects on the mountain goat population. Industrial activities such as mining, road construction and hydroelectric development also have the potential to have detrimental effects on the mountain goat population.
Comments
Post a Comment