Ibex are perfectly built for mountain life. Their hooves have hard outer edges for gripping rock and soft inner pads for friction - like natural climbing shoes. They can stand on ledges only a few centimetres wide, balanced perfectly while munching on patches of grass growing in tiny cracks.
In winter, ibex grow a thick coat to stay warm in the freezing mountain temperatures. They move lower down the slopes when snow covers the highest peaks, then return to the heights in summer when the meadows are full of fresh grass and alpine flowers.
A century ago, ibex had almost disappeared from the Alps because too many had been hunted. Thanks to careful protection, their numbers have recovered wonderfully. Today you can sometimes spot groups of ibex on the mountain ridges above Malbun, especially in the early morning when they come out to feed.