How has IUCN assessed the species in the genus Capra? (Easy)

Conservation action is needed to prevent future decline.

D1+2. There are only 585 mature individuals, which is much less than 1000, although it is more than 250. If current protection is weakened, an influx of people, habitat destruction, and poaching will likely ensue. Disease transmission from livestock or an outbreak of unknown origin can drive it to Critically Endangered or Extinct. This can be worsened by the fact that it only occurs in one location, Simien Mountains National Park. It was assessed as Endangered in 2008, but was reassessed as Vulnerable in 2020.

B1ab(iii,v). While it occurs in an area larger than 20000 km², it is known from only six locations and a decline of >10 % in population is likely to take place over the next three generations. This means that the species almost qualifies as Vulnerable.

C1+2a(i). There is a lack of population data in some parts of the range of the Nubian ibex. Only Israel has a stable population. Hunting pressure, competition with livestock, and lack of effective conservation action are the main causes of its decline. It is suspected that its population is less than 5000 mature individuals. The rate of decline in population is likely between 30-50 %. More information may show that this species deserves to be in the Endangered category.

A4abcd. There are numerous threats, 'old' and 'new'. Many of them are increasing in intensity. All estimates point to overall population decline. Furthermore, the species occurs at low densities in most areas. The species may have declined by a rate close to 30 % over the last three generations, but available data are of insufficient reliability and area coverage. It was assessed as Least Concern in 2008, but was reassessed as Near Threatened in 2020.

There are less than 10000 mature individuals; there are only 5754. The largest subpopulation had an estimated 1697 mature individuals in 2011, and all the other subpopulations had less than 1000 mature individuals each. There was no continuing decline of the population, but stable and increasing subpopulations only exist in areas with sustainable hunting management and protected areas. If these conservation activities cease, poaching will likely increase, bringing the positive trajectories of its subpopulations downward, and then the species will qualify as Vulnerable. It was assessed as Endangered in 2008, but the IUCN claims that it was erroneous and the species should have been assessed as Vulnerable. It was reassessed as Near Threatened in 2014 (published in 2015).

A2cd. It is listed as a precautionary Near Threatened because of past population decline, which had been estimated to be close to 30 % over the last three generations, inferred from overexploitation, shrinkage in distribution, and habitat destruction and degradation. Since the end of the 1990s, the population across most of its range looks at least stable and the population has been increasing in many areas. Applying the precautionary principle, it has been assessed as Near Threatened. It was assessed as Vulnerable in 2008, but was reassessed as Near Threatened in 2020.