This brave little goat leaps over its mother at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level. Marina Scarr, a nature photographer based in Idaho Springs, Colorado, captured this breathtaking image on the mountain peak of Mt Evans.
Marina explains that scaling the enormous boulders is neither simple for a goat, nor for a human.
“The road up to the peak is difficult and hazardous, even during the summer,” she added.
“The Mountain Goats are adept climbers of cliffs. Their suction cup-like hooves help them to move swiftly over hilly terrain.
It’s thrilling to see the youngsters learn how to leap from rock to rock.
“That memory will be burned in my mind forever.”
These fluffy goats may be adorable, yet they demonstrate that they are not afraid in the least.
Mountain Goats are actually a subfamily of goats. They’re not considered “True Goats” – Mountain Goats are part of the Caprinae (goat antelopes) subfamily.
They’re well suited to their rocky environment, where they enjoy eating everything from grass to conifer needles.
A mountain goat’s existence is not a smooth one. In the wild, they must deal with numerous perils including avalanches, rock falls, and starvation.
Mountain goats can live up to 15 years in the wild, but 20 years in zoos.
Mountain Goats are one of the most adaptable animals on earth, and as a result, their numbers have boomed in this harsh environment. Their conservation status is currently listed as “Least Concern,” thanks to their ability to survive in such desolate areas.
