{"id":141,"date":"2023-05-22T08:44:33","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T06:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalpark.08eins-preview.ch\/en\/flore-et-faune\/animaux\/bouquetin\/"},"modified":"2025-03-18T16:33:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T15:33:31","slug":"ibex","status":"publish","type":"florafauna_cpt","link":"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/flora-and-fauna\/ibex\/","title":{"rendered":"Ibex"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Who can imagine nowadays that the ibex was once regarded as a wandering medicine chest, hence its extermination?<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/894531381?h=79d842de67\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/api\/player.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>By 1650, the ibex had been exterminated in Graub\u00fcnden. Its lack of fear of human beings and the medical properties attributed to its flesh and horns were its undoing. At the beginning of the 20th century, two of the last remaining ibex were stolen from poachers and smuggled into Switzerland where the Peter &amp; Paul Wildlife Park set up a breeding station, unique in the world. In 1920 the first ibex bred from this pair were released in the National Park. Nowadays around 300 ibex live in the National Park.<\/p>\n<p>The word for ibex in Romansch is \u00abmacun\u00bb and there are indeed ibex living in the region called Macun situated above Lavin \u2013 hence its name. Since 1 August 2000 the ibex in that region are also inhabitants of the National Park.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011.jpg.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19550\" src=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011-300x90.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011-1024x307.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011-600x180.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011-768x230.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011-150x45.jpg.webp 150w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011-992x298.jpg.webp 992w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/\u00a9SNP_LO_20200815_106011-460x138.jpg.webp 460w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><strong>Not just a heraldic symbol or an advertisement for beer.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ibex certainly are impressive creatures! When you see them slowly lowering their heads and moving their horns &#8211; which can be nearly one meter long &#8211; from side to side, you cannot but show them respect. Don\u2019t let their rather lethargic movements and massive bodies fool you, though; they are extremely agile climbers.<\/p>\n<p>Like chamois, ibex have horns which grow throughout their life, increasing in length every year by a few centimetres. From the annual rings at the back of the horns it is possible to see exactly how old these animals are.<\/p>\n<p>Though they may weigh as much as 90 kilos, ibex are extremely agile climbers. They are very sure-footed and have an excellent sense of balance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930.jpg.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19551\" src=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930-300x90.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930-1024x307.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930-600x180.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930-768x230.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930-150x45.jpg.webp 150w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930-992x298.jpg.webp 992w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_20210901_118930-460x138.jpg.webp 460w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><strong>Female ibex are very attentive and keep a close watch on their surroundings.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Similar to chamois, female ibex live in small herds with other females and young ibex. The young are born in June and have a warm, woolly coat &#8211; very necessary in the raw climate they live in. They grow up within the protection of the herd.<\/p>\n<p>The horns of the female ibex are smaller than those of the male. The annual rings are closer together and it is not as easy to tell their age. A female ibex can reach up to 24 years of age &#8211; which is remarkable when one considers their hostile habitat.<\/p>\n<p>Ibex feed on alpine herbs and grass, as well as &#8211; in winter &#8211; bushes, roots and lichens.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22.jpg.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19552\" src=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22-300x90.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22-1024x307.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22-600x180.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22-768x230.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22-150x45.jpg.webp 150w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22-992x298.jpg.webp 992w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2007_09_13_22-460x138.jpg.webp 460w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><strong>Like red deer, ibex live in separate male and female herds of 10 to 30 individuals.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In herds of females the lead female holds an important position. In herds of males there is an obvious order of hierarchy: the size of the horns is a sign of individual strength. In August and during the rutting season in December the strongest males demonstrate their dominance.<\/p>\n<p>Ibex do not rut until December, although rivalry already begins in summer.<\/p>\n<p>Normally rather lethargic, male ibex become a lot more active in August. Impressive fights take place between animals of equal strength seeking to find their hierarchal place. This does not, however, exclude occasional fighting during the rutting season in December. In general, though, ibex cleverly avoid an extreme loss of energy during the rutting season, unlike red deer and chamois.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30.jpg.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19553\" src=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30-300x90.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30-1024x307.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30-600x180.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30-768x230.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30-150x45.jpg.webp 150w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30-992x298.jpg.webp 992w, https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/sites\/7\/2023\/05\/LO_2006_06_05_30-460x138.jpg.webp 460w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><strong>Ibex live mainly on mountain sides above the tree line and only very rarely descend into the forests.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Few animals use their energy as economically as the ibex. Their apparent lethargy is an efficient survival strategy.<\/p>\n<p>During migration from the high altitude summer ranges to the winter ranges, ibex, in particular the males, cover long distances.<\/p>\n<p>How an ibex is able to optically assess the quality of its landing place remains a mystery. The precision and certainty with which they land is remarkable.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-141","florafauna_cpt","type-florafauna_cpt","status-publish","hentry","florafauna_category-animals","florafauna_category-ungulates"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ibex - Swiss National Park<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalpark.ch\/en\/flora-and-fauna\/ibex\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ibex - Swiss National Park\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Who can imagine nowadays that the ibex was once regarded as a wandering medicine chest, hence its extermination?  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