Gamswild

Question 1

From which region did the ancestors of today’s European chamois originally migrate according to fossils?

Answer 1

Central Asia

Question 2

Approximately when were chamois widespread in Europe before the last ice age?

Answer 2

About 100,000 years ago

Question 3

When did the current chamois populations migrate to repopulate Eastern and Central Europe?

Answer 3

Some 10,000 years ago (after glaciers melted)

Question 4

Besides Europe, to which country has the chamois been successfully imported?

Answer 4

New Zealand

Question 5

What are the preferred habitats of Gamswild (chamois)?

Answer 5

Mountains and cliffs, often above the tree line (Alpine regions)

Question 6

Name the main European mountain ranges where chamois are found (plus introduced German areas).

Answer 6

Carpathians, Tatras, Dinarids, Alps, Apennines, Pyrenees; also Schwarzwald and Elbsandsteingebirge in Germany

Question 7

Which animal family does the chamois (Gamswild) belong to?

Answer 7

Bovidae (distinct genus with no close European relatives)

Question 8

Describe the summer coat of a chamois.

Answer 8

Light brown body with black line along the back, dark legs, dark stripe (Zuegel) through eyes to nose year-round

Question 9

Describe the winter coat of a chamois.

Answer 9

Long and dense black coat; only face, throat and belly yellowish

Question 10

What are the average weights of male (Gamsbock) and female (Geiss) chamois?

Answer 10

Gamsbock: 30-40 kg (65-88 lbs); Geiss: 23-27 kg (50-60 lbs)

Question 11

What are the horns of chamois called in German, and do both sexes have them?

Answer 11

Krücken (crutches); yes, found on both males and females

Question 12

How do male and female chamois horns (Krücken) differ?

Answer 12

Males: larger and more curled; females: smaller and less curled

Question 13

Are chamois horns shed like antlers, and how do they grow?

Answer 13

No, never shed; grow longer each year, growth stops in winter, resume in vegetation period

Question 14

How can the age of a chamois be exactly determined from its horns?

Answer 14

Count annual growth rings (minus 1); from age 5+ only 1-2 mm per year

Question 15

What is the German term for male, female and young chamois?

Answer 15

Male: Gamsbock; Female: Geiss; Young: Kitz (or Lamm/Gamskitz)

Question 16

What is the German term for a herd/group of chamois?

Answer 16

Rudel

Question 17

What is the breeding season (Brunftzeit) for Gamswild?

Answer 17

Late November (November)

Question 18

What is the gestation period and when are young born?

Answer 18

20-21 weeks; born in May (usually 1, sometimes 2)

Question 19

How do male and female chamois live most of the year?

Answer 19

Gamsbock wander alone or in small groups; Geiss and young (Lämmer) in a Rudel

Question 20

How many teeth does a chamois have?

Answer 20

32

Question 21

What sound does an alarmed chamois make?

Answer 21

Whistle-like sound for about 1 second with decreasing pitch

Question 22

Which senses are well developed in chamois?

Answer 22

Very good sight (cannot detect motionless objects or colours); great sense of smell; hearing unimportant

Question 23

What special glands are behind the horns and their function during rut?

Answer 23

Pair of glands that enlarge to fig size and secrete smelly liquid to mark branches/grass/rocks

Question 24

What is the minimum caliber and energy requirement for legally hunting Gamswild in Germany?

Answer 24

Minimum 6.5 mm caliber; 2000 joules at 100 metres

Question 25

Why are flat, fast calibers (e.g. .270) preferred for chamois hunting?

Answer 25

Expect steep angles and long distances in mountains

Question 26

What practical advice is given for hunting Gamswild in the mountains?

Answer 26

Pack appropriately (weather changes quickly); be weight-conscious – ounces equal pounds when carrying animal out

Question 27

What trophies are taken from a harvested Gamswild?

Answer 27

Krücken (horns) and Gamsbart (hat decoration from back hair of winter coat)

Question 28

What serious disease has reduced chamois populations especially in the western Alps?

Answer 28

Mange (Räude); highest losses in high-density areas; poor condition increases risk

Question 29

What health issue occurs repeatedly in practically all chamois populations?

Answer 29

Blindness

Question 30

How does male Gamswild behavior change during the rut (Brunftzeit)?

Answer 30

They join female groups from all directions, chase rivals and lose fat reserves by end of season