Balkan Chamois in winter

Posted by Rossen

In Bulgaria Balkan Chamois occurs steep slopes with rock formations in Rila, Pirin, Slavianka, Vitosha, Balkan and Rhodope Mountains of about 600 to 2900 m asl. Despite the ban on hunting in many places the stock of chamois remains unsatisfactory. According Hristovich (1939) in Bulgaria has about 1,000 individuals: Rila - 600-700, Rhodopes - 150-200, Pirin 80-100 and Stara Planina about 100 (Petrov, 1965).

Rila mountain

In winter Balkan Chamois are adapted to tolerate the harsh conditions in the high mountains, but sometimes falls victim to severe cold, deep snow, avalanches and landslides. The most common causes for winter mortality is poor food under the snow cover, whereupon the goats can not satisfy its energy needs. In winter goats are found in places where snow is blown or blown away by an avalanche, but in these places are usually in low windy days. There are large differences in preferred locations in quiet and windy days.This also applies to the wooded areas. Obviously, in order to avoid energy loss from strong cooling of the wind, do not visit the windy places with available food. This leads to a concentration of goats less windy places, but with worse food base. Besides food, the major factor in selecting a habitat is the temperature regime.In winter chamois prefer warm and sunny places.

Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica)