Wild Goat
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Subfamily
Genus
SPECIES
Capra aegagrus
Population size
70,000
Life Span
12-22
Top speed
17
11
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
60-136
132-299.2
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
70-100
27.6-39.4
cminch
cm inch 
Length
120-160
47.2-63
cminch
cm inch 

The Wild goat (Capra aegagrus) is a nearly threatened goat species native to Asia. It is one of the ancestors of the domestic goat.

Di

Diurnal

No

Nocturnal

He

Herbivore

Gr

Graminivore

Te

Terrestrial

Gr

Grazing

Co

Congregatory

Po

Polygyny

So

Social

He

Herding

Al

Altitudinal Migrant

W

starts with

Sm

Smart Animals
(collection)

Appearance

In the winter, male Wild goats are pale in color and have a dark beard and chest. Both sexes have beards and horns. The males' horns are longer and may reach up to 127 centimeters (50 in); they are curved and have an arc shape.

Video

Distribution

Geography

Wild goats are found from Turkey and the Caucasus in the west to Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the east. They prefer arid habitats in most of their range and live in montane forests, shrublands, and rocky areas.

Wild Goat habitat map
Wild Goat habitat map
Wild Goat
Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

Habits and Lifestyle

Wild goats are animals of mountain habitats and therefore are very agile and hardy; they can climb on bare rock and survive on sparse vegetation. Wild goats are gregarious, and if undisturbed will congregate in fairly large herds. The older males associate with such herds but generally keep together, often on the periphery of the main band. When disturbed, they are much more wary and hide in inaccessible crags very early in the morning, emerging again just before dusk. During the hottest part of the year, they lie up more extensively during the day and may graze a considerable part of the night. Wild goats have a wonderful sense of balance and can make a standing leap 1.75 m (5-6 ft) upwards on a seemingly vertical rock surface. They appear almost slow and deliberate when traversing rock faces but can slide without injury down almost perpendicular rock faces with drops as much as 4-6 m (13-20 ft).

Group name
Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Wild goats are herbivores (graminivores). Their diet includes various grasses, shrubs, and plants.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
November-January
PREGNANCY DURATION
170 days
BABY CARRYING
1-3 kids
INDEPENDENT AGE
after 6 mos
FEMALE NAME
nanny
MALE NAME
billy
BABY NAME
kid

Wild goats are polygynous breeders which means that one male mates with more than one female. The mating season usually takes place from November to January. During this time males produce oily substances from their skin which attracts a female and males also fight each other for mating rights. During the rut, old males also drive younger males from maternal herds. The gestation period averages 170 days and in late June to mid-July females give birth to between 1 and 3 kids. Kids are mobile almost immediately after birth and are typically weaned after 6 months of age. Young females become reproductively mature at 1.5-2.5 years of age, while males start to breed when they are 3.5-4 years old.

Population

Population threats

The major threats to wild goats include destruction and degradation of habitat, poaching, habitat loss due to logging, and competition with domestic livestock for food resources.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the wild goat is 70,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are stable.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The Wild goat is also called ‘bezoar’ because of a swallowed ball of foreign material often found in the stomach of these animals; these can be little balls of hair or some fiber.
  • The wool of Wild goats is very thick and warm and helps them survive the harsh mountain climate.
  • Wild goats are ruminants, meaning they chew the cud, and have four-chambered stomachs that play a vital role in digesting, regurgitating, and redigesting their food.
  • When challenging another male, wild goats frequently stand up on their hind legs and at the same time bend their head to one side before charging forward and clashing their horns.
  • Along with sheep, goats were among the first domesticated animals and the domestic goat is a domesticated subspecies of the wild goat. The domestication process started at least 10,000 years ago in what is now northern Iran. Easy human access to goat hair, meat, and milk were the primary motivations. Goat skins were popularly used until the Middle Ages for water and wine bottles when traveling and camping, and in certain regions as parchment for writing.

References

1. Wild Goat on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_goat
2. Wild Goat on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3786/22145942

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