Severe decline of the only remaining population of walia ibex in Ethiopia: proposed actions and recommended recategorization as Critically Endangered

A severe decline in the population of the walia ibex, endemic to Ethiopia's Simien Mountains and a national symbol, has been documented between 2015 and 2024. The population dropped from 865 individuals in 2015 to just 306 in 2024, with poaching identified as the primary cause by over 70% of interviewed stakeholders, exacerbated by regional instability during the COVID-19 crisis and the 2021–2022 war. Researchers recommend recategorizing the species from 'Vulnerable' to 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List due to its rapid population loss and limited range, aiming to galvanize urgent conservation efforts. A proposed action plan includes engaging local communities as ambassadors for protection and establishing a database of individually recognized ibexes to better track population dynamics.

Scholte, P., Abebe, B., Seraw, E., Abedela, F., Kinfe, M., May, B., Mekuria, W., Pays, O., Regassa, F., Simegn, T., Solomon, S., Teklu, T., Wonde, E., & Wakjira, K. (2025). Severe decline of the only remaining population of walia ibex in Ethiopia: proposed actions and recommended recategorization as Critically Endangered. Oryx, 59(3), 404–408. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605325000341