Ibex

mountain goats · wild animals · curved horns

Kings of the rocks. Ibex are wild goats that live in steep, rocky mountains across Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are expert climbers with special hooves that grip rocky cliffs like natural rock shoes.

Horns tell the story. Male ibex grow enormous curved horns with ridges across the front, kind of like a staircase spiraling backward. These impressive horns can grow over 3 feet long and help males compete with each other for leadership of the herd.

Super strong climbers. Ibex have incredibly strong muscles in their legs and bodies that let them jump and scramble up almost vertical cliffs where other animals can't follow. They can balance on ledges so narrow they seem impossible to stand on.

High altitude homes. Most ibex live in cold, snowy mountains at very high elevations where few other large animals can survive. In winter, they move down to slightly lower areas where they can find plants to eat under the snow.

Herd life. Ibex live together in groups called herds, and the males with the biggest horns usually get to lead and make decisions for the group.