Species profile

Name: chamois are goat-like antelopes native to the mountains of Europe. There are two species: the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), and the Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica).

Appearance: they have rich brown fur which turns light grey in Winter, short horns which curve backwards at the tip, and black stripes below their eyes.

Size: chamois are fairly small antelopes, reaching up to 80 cm tall and weighing up to 60 kg.

Diet: they feed on various types of vegetation including highland grasses and herbs during the Summer, and conifers, barks, and needles in Winter. 

Did you know: the main predators of chamois are lynx, leopards, wolves, and less frequently brown bears and golden eagles. To escape this barrage of predators chamois have incredible speed and agility. They have been recorded running at over 50 km per hour, jumping 2 metres vertically in the air, and bounding over 6 metres in a single leap.

Location: chamois are found in the Pyrenees, the mountains of south and central Europe, Turkey, and the Caucasus in Asia. They live at high altitudes and are adapted to rugged, rocky terrain. Chamois spend their summers above the tree line in meadows, and their winters lower down in pine forests.

Where to see chamois

According to reports submitted to WildSide, you can see chamois in the following places:

Photo credit: rottonara under a Creative Commons license from Pixabay