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Description

Just something to celebrate National Goat Day, the day when we show and share our appreciation and love for the long-horned, bearded, and mountain-climbing caprines we all know and love. However, I believe there should also be some appreciation for wild goats, the ones that live in their native habitats and lands (the ones that play an ecological role in their native habitats, as prey, and nutrient recyclers. Although they'd usually flee to higher ground to escape predators, wild goats can fight back and are known to sometimes butt predators off cliffs with their heads). They can even survive on sparse vegetation. They all belong to the genus, Capra (with the domestic goat included), and in the subfamily, Caprinae. Even though both groups are in the same subfamily, members of the genus, Capra (including goats), can be distinguished from the genus, Ovis, which includes sheep, by the presence of scent glands close to the feet, in the groin, and in front of the eyes, and the absence of other facial glands, and by the presence of a beard in some specimens, and of hairless calluses on the knees of the forelegs Here are all the wild goat species we share our world with today, all gathered here to wish us a very happy National Goat Day. The species included are:

The Wild Goat (aka the West Asian Ibex) (Capra aegagrus) - Near Threatened (Lower middle right)
The Asian Ibex (aka the Siberian Ibex) (Capra sibirica) - Near Threatened (Upper middle right)
The Markhor (Capra falconeri) - Near Threatened (Top center)
The West Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica) - Endangered (Top right)
The East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis) - Near Threatened (Top left)
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) - Least Concern (Upper middle left)
The Iberian ibex (aka the Spanish ibex) (Capra pyrenaica) - Least Concern (Bottom right)
The Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana) - Vulnerable (Bottom left)
The Walia Ibex (Capra walie) - Vulnerable (Lower middle left)

Like many of our creatures in our planet, whatever you think about them (if you've ever heard about them or already knew them), wild goats are just animals trying to survive. I know many of us are dependent like our milk and cheese and few of us are into chevon, but why not just skip the chevon just for this day and just to show some appreciation and respect for them for the curious, strong-willed, and intelligent creatures they are? Besides, although most of these wild goat species are not threatened/endangered (yet), most Capra species are listed as Near-Threatened, the Nubian ibex and the Walia ibex are both listed as Vulnerable and the West Caucasian tur is listed as Endangered. Some ways we can do to help include supporting conservation efforts being done to help wild goats and their habitats (including laws that prohibit hunting in certain areas), learning more about wild goats, and spreading the word. So, with all that said, Happy (Wild) Goat Day to one and all!

(Note: There is also the Rocky Mountain goat, however that species is in a separate genus, that being Oreamnos).

Description

Just something to celebrate National Goat Day, the day when we show and share our appreciation and love for the long-horned, bearded, and mountain-climbing caprines we all know and love. However, I believe there should also be some appreciation for wild goats, the ones that live in their native habitats and lands (the ones that play an ecological role in their native habitats, as prey, and nutrient recyclers. Although they'd usually flee to higher ground to escape predators, wild goats can fight back and are known to sometimes butt predators off cliffs with their heads). They can even survive on sparse vegetation. They all belong to the genus, Capra (with the domestic goat included), and in the subfamily, Caprinae. Even though both groups are in the same subfamily, members of the genus, Capra (including goats), can be distinguished from the genus, Ovis, which includes sheep, by the presence of scent glands close to the feet, in the groin, and in front of the eyes, and the absence of other facial glands, and by the presence of a beard in some specimens, and of hairless calluses on the knees of the forelegs Here are all the wild goat species we share our world with today, all gathered here to wish us a very happy National Goat Day. The species included are:

The Wild Goat (aka the West Asian Ibex) (Capra aegagrus) - Near Threatened (Lower middle right)
The Asian Ibex (aka the Siberian Ibex) (Capra sibirica) - Near Threatened (Upper middle right)
The Markhor (Capra falconeri) - Near Threatened (Top center)
The West Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica) - Endangered (Top right)
The East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis) - Near Threatened (Top left)
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) - Least Concern (Upper middle left)
The Iberian ibex (aka the Spanish ibex) (Capra pyrenaica) - Least Concern (Bottom right)
The Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana) - Vulnerable (Bottom left)
The Walia Ibex (Capra walie) - Vulnerable (Lower middle left)

Like many of our creatures in our planet, whatever you think about them (if you've ever heard about them or already knew them), wild goats are just animals trying to survive. I know many of us are dependent like our milk and cheese and few of us are into chevon, but why not just skip the chevon just for this day and just to show some appreciation and respect for them for the curious, strong-willed, and intelligent creatures they are? Besides, although most of these wild goat species are not threatened/endangered (yet), most Capra species are listed as Near-Threatened, the Nubian ibex and the Walia ibex are both listed as Vulnerable and the West Caucasian tur is listed as Endangered. Some ways we can do to help include supporting conservation efforts being done to help wild goats and their habitats (including laws that prohibit hunting in certain areas), learning more about wild goats, and spreading the word. So, with all that said, Happy (Wild) Goat Day to one and all!

(Note: There is also the Rocky Mountain goat, however that species is in a separate genus, that being Oreamnos).