Alpine Ibex - Distribution and Ecology

Distribution and Ecology

The Alpine ibex was, at one point, restricted only to the Gran Paradiso National Park in northern Italy, but in recent years it has recolonised most of the European Alps, and is found in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. There are currently no recognised subspecies, since all extant populations trace back to the Gran Paradiso remnant group.

Being an excellent climber, its habitat is the rocky region along the snowline above alpine forests, where it occupies steep, rough terrain at elevations of 1,800 to 3,300 metres (5,900 to 10,800 ft). Alpine ibex are typically absent for woodland areas although adult males in densely populated areas may stay in larch and mixed larch-spruce woodland most of the year. In one area they are also found in areas of coniferous forest. For most of the year, males and females occupy different habitat. Females rely on steep terrain more so than males. Males use lowland meadows during the spring, which is when snow melts and green grass appears. They then move up to alpine meadows during the summer. When winter arrives, both sexes move to steep rocky slopes that amass minimal little of snow. They prefer ibex slopes of 30-45° and will use small caves and overhangs for shelter. The home ranges of herds are highly variable, depending on the availability of resources, and may also vary in size throughout the year. Figures of anything from 180 to 2,800 hectares (440 to 6,900 acres) have been recorded. Home ranges tend to be largest during summer and autumn, smallest in winter and intermediate in spring. Female home ranges tend to be smaller than those of males.

Alpine ibexes are strictly herbivorous, with over half of their diet consisting of grasses, and the remainder being a mixture of moss, flowers, leaves, and twigs. If leaves and shoots are out of reach, they often stand on their rear legs to reach this food. Grass genera that are the most commonly eaten are Agrostis, Avena, Calamagrostis, Festuca, Phleum, Poa, Sesleria and Trisetum. The need to drink every few days in the summer causes the animals to seek permanent residence close to a dependable water source during this season. Alpine ibexes will hide in the rocks of the steep cliffs when pursued by predators. The climbing ability of the Alpine ibex is such that it has been observed standing on the sheer face of a dam, where it licks the stonework to obtain mineral salts.