Name: Siberian Ibex
Scientific name: Capra sibirica
Mongolian name: Янгир ямаа / Янгир
Other English names: Ibex, Asian Ibex, Altai Ibex, Mongolian Ibex, Gobi Ibex
The Siberian Ibex is a wild mountain goat found across Central Asia, including Mongolia. It is one of the special wild ungulates of Mongolia’s mountain and desert-mountain regions.
In Mongolia, the Siberian Ibex lives in rocky mountains, steep cliffs, dry hills, mountain valleys, and desert-steppe areas. It is especially well adapted to rugged landscapes where it can climb quickly and escape from predators.
The Siberian Ibex has a strong body, long legs, short tail, and powerful hooves. Its hooves help it move safely across steep rocks, narrow ledges, and rough mountain slopes. It can climb places that are difficult for many other animals to reach.
Male Siberian Ibex are called bucks. They are usually larger than females and have very long, thick, backward-curving horns with clear ridges. These horns are one of the most distinctive features of the species. Males use their horns during the breeding season when they compete with other males.
Female Siberian Ibex are smaller and have shorter, thinner horns. Young ibex also have small horns that grow longer as they mature.
The coat colour of the Siberian Ibex can vary by age, sex, season, and region. It is usually brown, greyish-brown, sandy brown, or dark brown. The belly and rump area may be lighter. In winter, the coat becomes thicker to protect the animal from cold mountain weather.
The Siberian Ibex is a herbivore. It mainly feeds on grasses, herbs, shrubs, leaves, and mountain plants. During different seasons, it may move between higher and lower areas to find food, water, and safer resting places.
Siberian Ibex often live in small groups or herds. Females and young usually stay together, while adult males may live separately outside the breeding season. During the mating season, males join female groups and compete for mates.
The Siberian Ibex is very alert and cautious. It uses sharp eyesight, strong hearing, speed, and climbing ability to avoid predators. When threatened, it often escapes by running up steep cliffs or rocky slopes. Its natural predators include snow leopards, wolves, and large birds of prey that may attack young animals.
This species plays an important role in mountain ecosystems. By grazing naturally, it helps maintain the balance of mountain vegetation. It is also an important prey species for large predators such as the snow leopard and wolf.
The Siberian Ibex is well adapted to harsh mountain environments. Its strong hooves help it climb steep rocks, its thick winter coat protects it from cold, and its brown-grey colour helps it blend into rocky landscapes.
Today, the Siberian Ibex faces threats in some parts of its range. These include illegal hunting, habitat disturbance, mining, roads, competition with livestock for pasture and water, and climate change. Human disturbance can reduce its access to safe feeding and resting areas.
Protecting the Siberian Ibex is important because it is one of Mongolia’s iconic mountain animals. Conserving this species also helps protect the wider mountain and desert-steppe ecosystems where many other wild animals live.
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