The ibex of the alps
An iconic animal of the alps is the alpine ibex. This magnificent animal with its large, backward-curved horns can be found in many images of this mountainous region. Why they are so special, you only realise when you get to meet them in real life. They move along the steep rock faces as if they were nothing, and the males' gigantic horns make these animals truly majestic.
The alpine ibex
Alpine ibexes are related to the goat and, as the name suggests, live in the alps. Here they live above the tree line, on steep, stony terrain where they move easily. They eat grass, herbs, young shoots, leaves and bark, but of course this is less easy to find in winter. For this reason, they descend to lower ground during this period so that they can still scavenge for their food.
The separate herds of ibex
The goats, or females, live in herds, with a dominant female in charge. The bucks also usually live in groups, but separate once the rut begins. During this time, they become each other's rivals, resulting in spectacular fights. The winner of a fight gets temporary rights to a herd of goats.
Young alpine ibexes
In late April, early May, the young ibex are born. Usually one, but sometimes two at a time. Because they have to go out with their mother right away in the high mountains, they can walk and climb very quickly. Various dangers lurk for the little ones, such as foxes and golden eagles, but fortunately they have their mother to protect them from these.
The horns of the ibex
Both males and females wear horns. One look at these horns is enough to know whether you are dealing with a buck or a goat. Bucks, or males, grow longer horns with large ridges on the front. From these ribs, which grow annually, you can tell how old the male in question is approximately. In goats, this is not visible. In addition, the females get a lot smaller than the males, which you could also recognise the sex by.
Alpine ibexes were almost extinct
In part due to its large horns, the alpine ibex was almost extinct. The animal was a kind of walking pharmacy for humans and was therefore frequently hunted. Fortunately, a group of about 100 ibexes persisted in northern Italy, after which a hunting ban was introduced. Today, they are once again found in many places in the alps and it is almost only avalanches that pose the greatest danger to these animals.
Finding the alpine ibex
Alpine ibexes, like the alpine marmot, can be found above the tree line. So to find these fascinating animals in the mountains, you have to look pretty high up. You have a great chance of seeing the alpine ibex in Austria, in National Park Hohe Tauern, as well as near Innsbruck, on the Nordkette. In Switzerland, there is a good chance of encountering a herd of ibex on the outskirts of the village of Pontresina. In spring, when the grass in the valley is green and tender again, but there is still snow on top of the mountains, the herd comes down to re-energise with the fresh grass. So would you like to admire these beautiful animals in the wild? Then these places are definitely recommended. To learn more about animals in the Alps, read about the Murmeltiere.
