Chennek to Ambiko, Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
A walia ibex feeds on a steep cliff face of the northern escarment above Chennek.
The walia ibex once existed in significant numbers upon the Simien plateau and probably elsewhere. Yet throughout its evolution it has been forced by Man to retreat, and now inhabits only the most inaccessible cliff faces of the Simien escarpment. It exists nowhere else in the world, and the Simien Mountains National Park was originally set up to protect its habitat. Virtually the only way of seeing one is by staring through a pair of binoculars down a steep cliff face, and although I did see a male with larger horns than this one, this is the best shot I could get of one.
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