The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) is a desert-dwelling wild goat found in the mountainous regions of northern and northeast Africa, and the Middle East. It was historically considered a subspecies of the Alpine ibex (C. ibex), but is now recognized as a distinct species. These agile climbers are well adapted to their rugged terrain and can often be seen navigating narrow mountain ledges with impressive ease.
A Nubian Ibex in its natural habitat.
Taxonomy and Evolution
The Nubian ibex shares a genus, Capra, with all other ibex and goats. Scientists use DNA to figure out how these animals are related.
One Y-chromosomal DNA analysis suggests two clades (subgroups) within the genus:
- The first clade contains domestic goats (C. hircus), wild goats (C. aegagrus), and markhors (C. falconeri).
- The second clade contains all other ibex, including the Nubian ibex.
In this analysis, the Nubian ibex is monophyletic (most closely related) to the Siberian ibex (C. sibirica). However, when the same study analyzed Mitochondrial DNA, it was suggested that all species in genus Capra are in one clade except for the Siberian ibex.
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An additional Y-chromosomal DNA and mitochondrial DNA study concludes that Nubian ibex are most closely related to Ethiopia's Walia ibex (C. walie).
The Nubian ibex was first identified in modern science by Frédéric Cuvier in his 1825 Histoire naturelle des mammifères: avec des figures originales, coloriées, dessinées d'aprèsdes animaux vivans, in which he illustrated the animal with the label "Bouc sauvage de la Haute-Égypte" ("Wild goat of Upper Egypt"). It was initially classified as Capra ibex nubiana, a subspecies of the Alpine ibex (C. ibex), which had been previously identified by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Physical Characteristics
Nubian ibex are one of the smallest ibex species. They stand around 65-75 cm (26-30 in) tall at the shoulder. They are a light tan color, with a white underbelly; males also have a dark brown mane down their backs. Their legs have a black and white pattern. They have a lighter rump with a dark brown tail.
Males begin growing a beard at age 2 or 3, which continues to grow longer and darker as they age. During the autumn breeding season, mature males grow a "rutting fur" on their breast and sides which is very dark brown. It appears in October in 3-4-year-old males, but it may appear as early as July or August in older males age 6 and up.
Nubian ibexes have long, thin horns that extend up and then backwards and down. In males, these reach around 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in length, while in females they are much smaller, reaching around 30 cm (12 in). Male horns are thicker than female horns, and grow large bulges which prevent the horns from sliding while the males are locked in combat.
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Male horn growth plateaus around age 7-8, where as female horn growth plateaus around age 4-6.
Habitat and Diet
Nubian ibex live on rocky, desert mountains with steep slopes and associated hills, plateaus, canyons, and wadis. They are true cliff dwellers, typically only coming down the mountain to graze on grasses and leaves, especially from Acacia trees (Genus Vachellia).
Ibex like to eat near cliffs. Cliffs offer a safe place to escape from predators. The farther they are from cliffs, the more careful they become. They also spend more time eating in green areas with good food that are close to water.
They forage for food on the ground and may also rear up on their hind legs to reach leaves in trees. They try to avoid plants that have strong defenses, like thorns. What they prefer to eat changes with the rain.
Behavior and Social Structure
Nubian ibex are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and rest by night. Like other ibex and goats, Nubian ibex spend much of their time on and around cliffs, which offer safety from potential predators. Ibex perceive a greater predation risk as they move farther away from cliffs.
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Ibex are social animals. Herds usually have females, young ibex, and males up to about three years old. A herd usually has up to 20 ibex, but sometimes as many as 50. Female herds often consist of related ibex and have a pecking order. Males usually live alone or in small groups of up to eight. During the breeding season, males join the female herds for about six to eight weeks.
Ibex typically traverse cliffs in single file when possible, and keep relatively horizontal in their orientation. Ibex migrate throughout the day and throughout the year. During the day, they navigate between food patches as they forage. They may rest throughout the day to chew their cud, especially around midday.
At night, they sleep on cliff sides in small depressions that they dig. These shallow diggings create microhabitats where a diverse range of seedlings can germinate, adding to the habitat's diversity.
Ibex are primarily nonvocal communicators. Females often bleat during estrus, and males may make several clicking, nasal sounds, or bleats. But they rely more heavily on posture, eye contact, and chemical secretions to convey information to other individuals.
Males display with their horns, body movements, tongue, or lips. Horns are used for fighting, specifically for ramming rather than puncturing. If two males will spar, clashing their horns together to establish dominance.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Mating season is typically in October and November, during which a dominant male will pursue several females. As they pursue potential mates, they smell the females' anal region with lip curled up (Flehmen).
Males produce a strong scented secretion when females are in estrous. Males can reach breeding maturity as young as 2 years, but may not be allowed to mate until age 5 when they are strong enough to fend off rival males.
Gestation lasts 5 months. Litters of 1-2 kids are born between March and July, although the majority of births are synchronized in a 3-4 week period that peaks in late March and April.
Females leave the herd to give birth in a secluded space. Newborns can stand within 15 minutes of birth, and can nurse within two hours. The mother and young rejoin the herd in a few days, joining other mothers and young to form a crèche for several weeks.
Kids are weaned around 4 months old. Females reach mature size at age 3-4, while males reach it around 6 years old.
Predators
They are preyed upon by Arabian leopards (Panthera pardus nimr), Arabian wolves (Canis lupus arabs), golden jackals (Canis aureus), caracals (Caracal caracal), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), Eurasian eagle owls (Bubo bubo), and bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus).
Distribution and Conservation Status
Long ago, Nubian ibex lived all over the Middle East and Northeast Africa. Today, you can find them in Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. They used to live in Lebanon and Syria but are now gone from those places. However, Lebanon is trying to bring them back.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Nubian ibex as "vulnerable". It is likely that fewer than 5,000 mature ibex live in their native habitat. The small size and fragmentation of remaining ibex populations is worrisome, because limited opportunities for dispersal may lead to reduced genetic diversity and decreased chances of survival.
Ecotourism and outdoor recreation may disturb ibex in nature reserves, causing them to change their behavior in order to avoid people. They will look for water sources where there are fewer people. They might even leave good food spots if there are too many humans around. On the other hand, some ibex have gotten used to living near towns and popular nature spots. This can cause problems. These ibex might not be as careful around predators. They go to towns because there's lots of food and shelter.
Two main populations are present, one in the Eastern Desert to the east of the Nile River and one in the South Sinai. The Eastern Desert population contains 400-1,000 individuals in reserves that include Elba Protectorate and Wadi Gemal Protected Area. A further 200-250 individuals reside in the South Sinai region, sheltered by the St. Katherine Protectorate, Taba Protected Area and Abu Gallum Protected Area.
Three primary ibex populations exist in Israel: in the Negev Highlands, Eilat Mountains, and the Judaean Desert, which traverses into the Palestinian West Bank. There is habitat connectivity between these population centers, with an especially strong wildlife corridor between the Judaean Desert and Negev Highlands.
Once nearly extirpated in the country, Jordan has re-established their ibex population through captive breeding and reintroduction programs. Population strongholds exist within protected areas, including around 250 ibex in Dana Biosphere Reserve, 200 in Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve, and 100 in Wadi Rum World Heritage Area.
In 2017, a small herd was brought to Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve from Jordan to re-establish a breeding population in Lebanon.Oman's largest ibex population stronghold is in the Dhofar Mountains, with 600-1,100 individuals. Another 100-250 ibex live in and near Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve, in the Huqf Escarpment and Janabi Hills.Small ibex populations are present in protected areas, including the Hawtat bani Tamim Ibex Reserve in Saudi Arabia.
Distribution of Nubian Ibex.
Their numbers are going down because of poaching (illegal hunting), habitat damage, and human growth.
Because the Nubian ibex’s range includes so many countries, it is difficult to coordinate the same policies and conservation efforts throughout. The Nubian ibex dwells in multiple protected areas, including reserves in Egypt, Israel, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan.
Captivity
Nubian ibex live in 16 zoos across Israel, including a breeding herd in the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. They live in 3 zoos across the United Arab Emirates, 1 zoo in Gaza, and 1 zoo in Singapore. As of December 2013, at least 34 males and 39 females live across 8 captive facilities; 7 of these facilities are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Cultural Significance
Nubian ibex have been a popular image in art for thousands of years in the Middle East. You can see them in rock carvings, metalwork, and pottery. Some art is as old as the Stone Age. In rock carvings, ibex are often shown being hunted by dogs and people with bows.
The ibex in art might show real hunts. But they could also represent spiritual ideas like resurrection (coming back to life), seasonal cycles of rain and dry times, and the balance of life and death. A common motif in ancient Middle Eastern art contains a sacred tree, often the Tree of Life, flanked on each side by an ibex. This motif is present across the region, from Iran and Mesopotamia to Arabia and the Horn of Africa. In Yemen, the ibex is a longstanding symbol of national identity, representing many positive attributes of the Yemeni people.
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Hunting the Nubian Ibex
Hunting the Nubian ibex in the Eastern Cape of South Africa offers a unique challenge for hunters. The terrain is treacherous, requiring both physical endurance and strategic planning. Hunting ibex often involves long hikes in the mountains and requires precise shooting over long distances. It is a form of hunting that rewards patience and perseverance.
Side by Side Safaris provides tailor-made hunting experiences, with experienced guides assisting hunters in spotting and taking down these majestic animals.
Alpine Ibex
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), also known as the steinbock, is a European species of goat that lives in the Alps. It is one of ten species in the genus Capra and its closest living relative is the Iberian ibex.
The Alpine ibex is a sexually dimorphic species; males are larger and carry longer horns than females. Its coat is brownish-grey. Alpine ibexes tend to live in steep, rough terrain and open alpine meadows.
Alpine ibexes primarily feed on grass and are active throughout the year. Although they are social animals, adult males and females segregate for most of the year, coming together only to mate. During the breeding season, males use their long horns to fight for access to females.
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