Size
Alpine
ibexes
are
about
as
tall
as
a
six-year-old
child.
Family
They're
related
to
other
wild
goats
like
the
markhor,
Caucasian
tur
and
Nubian
ibex.
Fave
Food
They
graze
on
grasses,
leaves,
bark,
ferns
and
moss.
Moving
Time
In
winter,
ibexes
hang
out
on
the
lower
mountain
slopes,
where
there
is
more
food
and
less
snow.
In
spring,
they
migrate
back
up
the
mountain.
Good
Grip
These
goats
are
amazing
climbers!
They
have
special
hooves
that
grip
on
to
rocks
like
suction
cups.
They
can
also
jump
as
high
as
1.8
m
(6
ft.)
from
standing
still.
Herd
Life
Female
ibexes
live
in
herds
of
about
10
to
20.
Males
join
the
female
herds
during
mating
season.
They
fight
over
females
by
rearing
up
on
their
hind
legs
and
crashing
their
horns
together.
Steady
Baby
The
day
after
birth,
baby
ibexes
are
steady
enough
to
join
their
mothers
on
the
rocky
cliffs.
I
B
E
X
the
food
WHERE
IT
LIVES
Italy
France
Germany
Alps
AFRICA
NORTH
SEA
TEXT:
JENNA
CAMPBELL
ILLUSTRATIONS:
BILL
SUDDICK
PHOTOS:
GETTYISTOCK
CONSULTANT:
BRENT
HUFFMAN,
TORONTO
ZOO
Chickadee 7
