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Walia Ibex
Conservation status
Critically endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Capra Species: C. walie
Binomial name
Capra walie Rüppell, 1835

The Walia Ibex (Capra walie, Ge'ez: ዋልያ wālyā) is a species of ibex that is critically endangered (although it is sometimes considered a subspecies of Alpine Ibex). Threats against the species include habitat loss, poaching and restricted range. Only 500 individuals survive in the mountains of Ethiopia, especially in the Semien Mountains. It's thought that only around 400 individuals still remain largerly due to past poaching and habitat depletion. Though if the population was to increase the surrounding mountain habitat would not be sufficient enough to hold more than 2,000 ibex. The adult walia ibex's only known wild predator is the hyena. However young ibex are often hunted by a variety of fox and cat species. The ibex are members of the goat family and the walia ibex is the southernmost of today's ibexes. In the late 1990's the walia ibex went from endangered to critically endangered due to the declining population. The walia ibex is also known as the abyssinian ibex.

These animals have a chocolate-brown to chestnut-brown coat coloration, greyish-brown muzzle and a lighter grey in the eyes and legs. The belly and insides of the legs are white, and black and white patterns stretch upon the legs of these animals. The males have very large horns which curve backwards, reaching lengths up to 110 cm. These horns are used for dominance disputes between males. The males also have distinguished black beards. The length of the walia ibex beard varys with age. The older males have longer thicker beards than the young ones have. Females also have horns but they are shorter and thinner. Females are smaller in body size and lighter in color. The horns on both the males and the females are rigid. The overall size of the walia ibex is smaller and slimmer than the bodies of the capra ibex.

The walia ibex live in herds ranging from 5 to 20 animals. However the older more mature males are often more solitary, though they will remain within a short distance of the main herd most times and during the mating season will rejoin with the herd for breeeding purposes. The breeding usually takes place during late fall and early winter. The female the following spring will give birth to 1 or 2 offspring. A herd of walia ibex was noted to travel on half of a kilometer up to 2 kilometers per day.

The Walia Ibex lives in very steep rocky, cliff areas between around 2500 and 4500 m high. Habitat is mountain forest, sub-alpine grasslands and scrub. They are grazers. Their diet includes bushes, herbs, lichens, shrubs, grass, and creepers. Often seen standing on its hind legs to get to young shoots of giant heath. Most active in the morning and evening and will rest in the sun on rock ledges. Males live in bachelor groups and females live in groups with their offspring. Mating season is at summit from March to May. Males compete for females by ramming their horns with amazing force. Gestation period occurs around 150–165 days. They reach sexual maturity at one year of age.

This species is only found in the northern mountains of Ethiopia. Only 150–200 animals were surviving in 1963, but now the population has increased to 500 indiviuals. They have been hunted extensively for meat and horns. The horns are used as mugs and as trophies. Habitat loss is another major threat against the species. Encroaching settlement, livestock grazing and cultivation are all problems. Road construction is also fragmenting the habitat. Luckily, the Semien National Park which was established in 1969 has really helped the speices. However, they are still in trouble and need some more conservation measures to help protect them.

http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/3797/summ

http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/3797/dist

http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Capra_walie/more_info.html

This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations.

http://www.animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Capra_walia.html

Nowak, Ronald M. Walkers Mammals of the World. N.p.: JHU Press, n.d