The walia ibex (Capra walie, Amharic: ዋልያ wālyā Oromo: Waliyaa or Gadamsa baddaa) is a vulnerable species of ibex. It is sometimes considered an endemicsubspecies of the Alpine ibex. If the population were to increase, the surrounding mountain habitat would be sufficient to sustain only 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 1990s, the walia ibex went from endangered to critically endangered due to the declining population. The walia ibex is also known as the Abyssinian ibex.[2][3] Given the small distribution range of the Walia ibex in its restricted mountain ecosystem, the presence of a large number of domestic goats may pose a serious threat that can directly affect the survival of the population.[4]
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 weigh 80–125 kg (180-280 lb) and have very large horns which curve backwards, reaching lengths up to 110 cm (43 in). These horns are used for dominance disputes between males. The males also have distinguished black beards. The length of the walia ibex beard varies with age. The older males have longer, thicker beards than the young ones . Females also have horns, but they are shorter and thinner. Females are smaller and lighter in color. The horns on both males and females are rigid. The overall size of the walia ibex is smaller and slimmer than the alpine ibex.
Behaviouredit
Walia ibex live in herds ranging from five 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 and rejoin with the herd for breeding purposes. Breeding usually takes place during late fall and early winter. The following spring, the female will give birth to one or two offspring. A herd of walia ibex was noted to travel one half of a kilometer up to two kilometers per day.
Habitat and ecologyedit
A group of Walia ibex, Semien Mountains, Ethiopia.
The Walia ibex lives in very steep, rocky cliff areas between 2,500 and 4,500 m (8,200 and 14,800 ft) high. Their habitats are mountain forests, subalpine grasslands, and scrub. They are grazers. Their diets include bushes, herbs, lichens, shrubs, grasses, and creepers. They often stand on their hind legs to get to young shoots of giant heath. Walia ibex are 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 the summit from March to May. Males compete for females by ramming their horns with amazing force. Gestation periods last 150–165 days. They reach sexual maturity at one year of age.
Threatsedit
This species is found only in the northern mountains of Ethiopia. Once widespread in the Semien Mountains, the numbers dropped during the 20th century. Only 200–250 animals were surviving in 1994–1996, but recently the population has somewhat increased to about 500 individuals in 2004. Habitat loss and hunting are major threats to the species. The encroaching settlement, livestock grazing, and cultivation are also big problems. Road construction is also fragmenting their habitat. The pressure and competition for natural resources have seen a constant increase in the past decades. Not only from livestock but also human agriculture and needs. This increase has affected the rate of interbreeding, survival, and expansion of the population. This impact has seen the endangerment level continue to rise and fewer and fewer resources are available for the native species to sustain their presence (Alemayehu et al, 2011). The most important stronghold for their survival is now the 13,600 ha (34,000 acres) sized Semien National Park which was established in 1969. The Walia ibex is considered to be vulnerable by the IUCN and needs further conservation measures to survive. Since no captive population is kept anywhere in the world, the IUCN recommends capturing a few individuals to form the nucleus of a captive breeding group.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abEjigu, D. (2020) [errata version of 2020 assessment]. "Capra walie". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T3797A178652661. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T3797A178652661.en. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
Nowak, Ronald M. Walkers Mammals of the World. N.p.: JHU Press, n.d
Alemayehu, K., Dessie, T., Gizaw, S., Haile, A., & Mekasha, Y. (2011). Population dynamics of Walia ibex (Capra walie) at Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. African Journal of Ecology, 49(3), 292–300. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.2011.01264.x
May 01, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Walia ibex news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message The walia ibex Capra walie Amharic ዋልያ walya Oromo Waliyaa or Gadamsa baddaa is a vulnerable species of ibex It is sometimes considered an endemic subspecies of the Alpine ibex If the population were to increase the surrounding mountain habitat would be sufficient to sustain only 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 1990s the walia ibex went from endangered to critically endangered due to the declining population The walia ibex is also known as the Abyssinian ibex 2 3 Given the small distribution range of the Walia ibex in its restricted mountain ecosystem the presence of a large number of domestic goats may pose a serious threat that can directly affect the survival of the population 4 Walia ibex Male Female with juvenileSemien Mountains National Park Ethiopia Conservation status Vulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Artiodactyla Family Bovidae Subfamily Caprinae Tribe Caprini Genus Capra Species C walie Binomial name Capra walieRuppell 1835 Range of the walia ibex in black Contents 1 Appearance 2 Behaviour 3 Habitat and ecology 4 Threats 5 References 6 External linksAppearance edit nbsp Ruppell s depiction of the species 1835 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 weigh 80 125 kg 180 280 lb and have very large horns which curve backwards reaching lengths up to 110 cm 43 in These horns are used for dominance disputes between males The males also have distinguished black beards The length of the walia ibex beard varies with age The older males have longer thicker beards than the young ones Females also have horns but they are shorter and thinner Females are smaller and lighter in color The horns on both males and females are rigid The overall size of the walia ibex is smaller and slimmer than the alpine ibex Behaviour editWalia ibex live in herds ranging from five 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 and rejoin with the herd for breeding purposes Breeding usually takes place during late fall and early winter The following spring the female will give birth to one or two offspring A herd of walia ibex was noted to travel one half of a kilometer up to two kilometers per day Habitat and ecology edit nbsp A group of Walia ibex Semien Mountains Ethiopia The Walia ibex lives in very steep rocky cliff areas between 2 500 and 4 500 m 8 200 and 14 800 ft high Their habitats are mountain forests subalpine grasslands and scrub They are grazers Their diets include bushes herbs lichens shrubs grasses and creepers They often stand on their hind legs to get to young shoots of giant heath Walia ibex are 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 the summit from March to May Males compete for females by ramming their horns with amazing force Gestation periods last 150 165 days They reach sexual maturity at one year of age Threats editThis species is found only in the northern mountains of Ethiopia Once widespread in the Semien Mountains the numbers dropped during the 20th century Only 200 250 animals were surviving in 1994 1996 but recently the population has somewhat increased to about 500 individuals in 2004 Habitat loss and hunting are major threats to the species The encroaching settlement livestock grazing and cultivation are also big problems Road construction is also fragmenting their habitat The pressure and competition for natural resources have seen a constant increase in the past decades Not only from livestock but also human agriculture and needs This increase has affected the rate of interbreeding survival and expansion of the population This impact has seen the endangerment level continue to rise and fewer and fewer resources are available for the native species to sustain their presence Alemayehu et al 2011 The most important stronghold for their survival is now the 13 600 ha 34 000 acres sized Semien National Park which was established in 1969 The Walia ibex is considered to be vulnerable by the IUCN and needs further conservation measures to survive Since no captive population is kept anywhere in the world the IUCN recommends capturing a few individuals to form the nucleus of a captive breeding group 1 References edit a b Ejigu D 2020 errata version of 2020 assessment Capra walie IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T3797A178652661 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 2 RLTS T3797A178652661 en Retrieved 26 April 2021 Endemic Animals of Ethiopia Encyclopedia Britannica Ibex Berihun 2016 DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Diet Overlap between the Endangered Walia Ibex and Domestic Goats Implications for Conservation PLOS ONE 11 7 e0159133 Bibcode 2016PLoSO 1159133G doi 10 1371 journal pone 0159133 PMC 4945080 PMID 27416020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capra walie https web archive org web 20070213095117 http www arkive org species GES mammals Capra walie more info html http animaldiversity ummz umich edu site accounts information Capra walie html Nowak Ronald M Walkers Mammals of the World N p JHU Press n d Alemayehu K Dessie T Gizaw S Haile A amp Mekasha Y 2011 Population dynamics of Walia ibex Capra walie at Simien Mountains National Park Ethiopia African Journal of Ecology 49 3 292 300 https doi org 10 1111 j 1365 2028 2011 01264 x Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walia ibex amp oldid 1214429551, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
