The Nubian Ibex, a relative to the goat, lives in the mountainous desert areas. Their numbers are declining because they are hunted for their meat and for the magnificent horns on males, and because they must struggle over food with livestock.
Body length: 140-150cm
Tail length: 15-25cm
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
They live in the mountainous desert areas of the Arabian Peninsula and the northeastern parts of Africa.
The Nubian Ibex eats grasses, leaf buds, and leaves.
The male Nubian Ibex is well known for its large horns, but if you look closely, you'll notice there are small horns on the female as well.
Males lock horns in a raging battle!
The Nubian Ibex is a relative to the goat that lives in the mountainous desert areas. They live in rocky areas eating grass and leaf buds. Males bump their large prominent horns together as they battle over their mating partner. An intense battle plays out as both males stand on their hind legs and ram their horns against their opponent. The thud heard as they knock their horns together sounds as though they are about to break their necks.
Prey for their meat and horns causes their population to decline...
Humans have always hunted the Nubian Ibex because they are a rare source of meat in the desert. Even today, their prominent horns are sought after by poachers. Their natural behavior makes it easy for poachers to find them because, unlike the camel that also lives in the desert, the Nubian Ibex tries to drink water every day so poachers simply ambush them at water bodies. Another cause of their decline comes from fighting for food with livestock and camels that have returned to their wild state.
If you click the words above, you can see other animals related to this one.