Mountain goats (OREAMNOS AMERICANUS) (BOVIDAE) are rarely found in collections of zoos of former USSR. These ungulates have massive body, white pelage with thick underfur and very sharp horns. They inhabit alpine tundra and subalpine areas in mountains of North America.
This year one of our females succeded in weaning of two kids and now they walk along the enclosure together with their mother.
Usually mountain goats walk slowly but they are skilful jumpers. The enclosure for our goats had been constructed in 1996 but the walls were not steep enough to keep animals inside and later the enclosure was rebuilt.
The males of mountain goats are the most dangerous animals in captivity after elephants and venomous snakes: they can wound keepers with their sharp horns, and keepers must be very careful looking after them.
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