cal 6 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 These newly released pictures of Alpine ibex goats scaling the 160ft face of the Cingino Dam in northern Italy are fascinating, but not unusual. It's a classic illustration of how well this species has adapted to its environment. Ibex spend their life climbing up mountains to graze; then, at a certain time of day, they climb down again. They get different foods this way. They go uphill because the grass is better there in the summer, while in the winter it is better below. Here, I think, they are licking the stone for its minerals and salts. At a lower level there's plenty of grass, but they do need salts and minerals, and this must be a favourite place for them. The ibex have soft, split hooves that can grip like a pincer. Big and supple with shortish, powerful legs, they are very sure-footed and have good eyesight. In the north of Italy or the Alps, there are predators – their calves, for instance, are eaten by eagles – so they have to be on the lookout all the time. Link to post Share on other sites
Schneebored 0 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Dam! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 They'd surely have problems in Hakuba though. Link to post Share on other sites
kkk 7 Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 That is just so cool. Those Ibex have just shot up in my books. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Some areas in the Alps they are extinct. I just saw a docu here, and the Swiss smuggled them into their country and released them. Sorry, I missed why and where they smuggled them from... Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 that would scare the crap outta me. I'm scared of steeps. Link to post Share on other sites
nagoid 4 Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 They're nutters, if you ask me. Link to post Share on other sites
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