The Nubian ibex is a rugged, desert-adapted mountain goat with a light sandy-brown coat and paler underparts. Males are distinguished by their long, backward-curving horns and dark neck mane, while females have slimmer, shorter horns. A baby Nubian ibex is born with a lighter, more uniform coat and tiny horn buds, already showing the strong, sure-footed climbing ability that defines the species.
Nubian Ibex
Zone
Arabian
Scientific name
Capra nubiana
IUCN Red List status
Vulnerable (VU)
Natural habitat
This desert-dwelling goat species is found in the mountainous areas of Northern and Northeast Africa, and the Middle East.
Dietary Requirements
Herbivore: The Nubian ibex consumes grass, bushes, and lichen (especially from Acacia trees), and can digest tough, woody and toxic plants.
Threats
Threats include competition with livestock for water and fodder, hunting, habitat destruction and fragmentation.
Did you know?The Nubian ibex has a gut specially adapted for digesting tough, toxic plants.
A group of ibexes is called a “tribe” or “trip”.
A group of ibexes is called a “tribe” or “trip”.
About Al Ain Zoo
About Al Ain Zoo
A Pioneering Vision
Established in 1968 by the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Zoo has been in the forefront of preserving the region’s wildlife and delicate ecosystem, while caring for hundreds of endangered animals.
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