The Swiss environmental protection organization Pro Natura has declared the ibex, or wild mountain goat, with its long, ridged, backward curving horns ’the animal of 2006.’ The last native mountain goat was shot dead in 1809. The organization chose the ibex, ’bouquetin’ in French, to celebrate the 100 years of the beast’s re-introduction into the country. The horned summit stalkers were exterminated partly because of their powerful symbolic aura that made them popular with local witchcraft practitioners: its blood was supposed to be effective against kidney stones, the animal’s massive horns were thought to be good medicine against impotence, and parts of the goat’s stomach were said to cure depression. In 1906 three Italian ibex were smuggled into Switzerland. The single male and two females of the vigorous species then went about their business to repopulate the lonely Swiss Alps. Today, it is estimated some 14,000 bouquetins graze in this country’s mountain summits. This year, Switzerland will give Italy a gift of 40 ibex, which will be released in the Italian Alps.

<< Geneva News Archive