Pyrenean Ibex The Pyrenean Ibex, Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica, was a sub-species of the Iberian wild goat, also

known as the Spanish Ibex. It is the second sub-species of the Spanish Ibex to extinct. The first is the Portuguese Ibex. The Pyrenean Ibex is known for its magnificent horns. In males, the horns are thick and would slip back before curling under and pointing upwards in age. However, in females, the horns were broad at the base, cylindrical, and curved slightly upwards and back. The Pyrenean Ibex went extinct last January 2000. The last of this species was a female named Celia. She was found dead under a tree. The cause of her death is unknown specifically, but some believe that the Pyrenean Ibexs decrease in population is caused by the high hunting pressures and the competition with domestic and wild ungulates. The Pyrenean Ibex got its name from its place of origin, Pyrenees, a mountain range in Andorra, France. It referred a rocky, mountainous habitat. A few hundred years ago these are numerous, but in the 1900s its population decreased to that below 100. However, from 1910 onwards, their population never rose to 40. The Pyrenean Ibex was found in only a small part of Ordesa National Park in Huesca. Did you know? The Pyrenean Ibex is the only specie that became un-extinct, even for a short while, after being declared extinct. A scientist tried to clone the DNA of a Pyrenean Ibex from Celia. Because of that the Pyrenean Ibex was un-extinct for 7 minutes before the clone died. This failure just goes to show that once a living thing cease to exist, we wouldnt be able to recreate it, even through cloning. Life is precious so we should not just take it for granted. Protect and conserve what we have because we never know if we wouldnt have enough for the next generation. So we should just appreciate the beings that are given to us by God and try our best to protect and care for them.

By: Mariella Mae Marquez Level 8 Socrates