Feeding ecology of Walia Ibex Capra walie (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Walia Ibex (Capra walie), an endemic and endangered species in Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, exhibits a generalist foraging behavior that contributes to crop raiding complaints from local communities. The study, conducted through scan sampling between October 2009 and November 2011, identified over 28 plant species in their diet, with Festuca sp., Lobelia rhynchopetalum, Helichrysum citrispinum, and Helichrysum horridum being the most commonly used. Walia Ibex were primarily active during early morning and late afternoon, dedicating significant time to feeding compared to other diurnal activities. The percentage of time spent on major plant species remained consistent between wet and dry seasons, with a tendency towards browsing over grazing. This behavior likely drives their range shift towards higher altitudes, emphasizing the need for community-based conservation strategies that account for foraging ecology.

Ejigu, D., Bekele, A., & Powell, L. (2021). Feeding ecology of Walia Ibex Capra walie (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13(5), 18132–18140. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6228.13.5.18132-18140