Pyrenean Ibex
By: Lily Ellis & Amanda Fleming
Biological Data
The scientific name for the Ibex is Capra pyranaica. The Iberian Ibex lived in the mountainous regions of Europe, North Central Asia, and Northern Africa. They lived in altitudes ranging from 8,200 ft. to 14,800 ft. on the cliffs of the Ethiopean highlands. They are roughly 1 to 5 1/2 feet from their hooves to their withers. Both genders of the Ibex have large horns, and they're main diet is shrubs, bushes, and grasses. They roam in herds of about 20. The initial population size used to be about 50,000.
Dates of Discovery and Extinctiion
The Ibex was discovered around the time of the last Ice Age. It's ancestor migrated to France around 80,000 years ago. The Ibex became officially extinct on January 6, 2000. The last Ibex, name Celia, died in captivity after being critically injured from a fallen tree.
Cause of Extinction/ Actions to Prevent Extinction
The World lost an amazing creature from hunting it for its fur and meat. What could man have done to save the Ibex? Cut back on hunting it for a sport, stop poaching, or killing them to use it's fur as clothing. When the Ibex was on the brink of extinction, we could have also started facilities to help preserve the Ibex and keep it from becoming extinct. We could have done so many things to prevent it's extinction, instead we let it fade away from existence, never to be seen again.
Ecological Effects of Extinction
Although the extinction of the Ibex didn't make a huge impact to the environment, the world still lost an amazing animal. An impact on the environment caused by the extinction of the Ibex is an increase in producers in the area.
Bibliography
"Endangered Species: Conservation Information and More." About.com Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.
"Facts About Ibex." LiveScience.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.
"Scientists Want to 'de-extinct' 22 Species, including the Wooly Mammoth, the Dodo Bird and the Tasmanian Tiger." ZME Science. N.p., 25 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.