Mammal · GBIF taxon 4262706
Wild Goat
Capra hircus aegagrusAlso known as Bezoar Ibex, Bezoar Goat, Pasang, Anatolian Bezoar Goat
Wild goats navigate sheer vertical cliffs with astounding agility, using specialized concave hooves that grip tiny rock ledges. Dominant bucks feature sweeping, scimitar-shaped horns reaching over a meter in length, which they clash violently during the autumn rut. These resilient mountain ungulates represent the ancestral wild stock from which all domestic goats descended thousands of years ago.
MountainHoofedHerbivore
Licensed referenceAlexander Malkhasyan / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Shrub Leaves
- Alpine Herbs
Predators
- Persian Leopard
- Gray Wolf
- Golden Eagle
ThreatsPoaching, habitat degradation, competition with domestic livestock, hybridization
HabitatsRocky mountain cliffs, alpine meadows, arid crags, shrublands
Life span12–18 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyBovidae
- SpeciesCapra hircus aegagrus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Horned adults may charge if cornered; keep a respectful distance on mountain trails.
- What to notice
- Look for large scimitar horns on males, dark body markings, and agile movement along steep rock faces.
- Support conservation
- Observe from a distance using optics to avoid startling herds into dangerous terrain.
Responsible observation
- Binocular Scouting: Use high-powered optics to scan cliff faces and rocky outcrops where herds rest during midday hours.
- Approach Downwind: Move quietly below rocky ridges without blocking escape routes or driving animals toward drop-offs.
- Rutting Season Caution: Give dominant males wide clearance during late autumn when aggressive rutting behavior peaks.
Domestic Descendant (c) Roy Lowry, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Paul Morris, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Dennis White · cc0
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