Nubian ibex

Nubian ibex Sure-footed on the cliffs

יעלCapra nubiana

The Nubian ibex is a wild goat with long, curved horns, and it lives on desert cliffs and canyon walls. It is easily seen at Ein Gedi, Makhtesh Ramon, and Sde Boker, where herds come to drink at dusk. Males have heavy horns that can reach more than a meter. The Bible mentions the ya'el in the Psalms as an animal that finds safety in the high rocks. Ibex are protected, and visitors should keep their distance and not feed them.

Glossary: Nubian ibex