It’s a rare sight: a whole herd of ibexes attacking the Salanfe dam. You have to be lucky to witness this acrobatic act, during which the animals will actually supplement each other with mineral salts.
“The ibexes need mineral salts which they do not find in their food, especially in winter. So they look for this salt almost everywhere. And as we have a magnificent dam which oozes saltpeter which contains these mineral salts, they will lick it to restore your health for the summer”, explains Fabienne Marclay, caretaker of the Salanfe inn for 29 years.
A fascinating balancing act for bipeds: “It’s a great discovery, I didn’t think it was possible actually. I think it’s magical. It’s incredible to see them like that in nature in freedom”, explains a hiker from Neuchâtel.
External content
This external content cannot be displayed because it may collect personal data. To view this content you must authorize the category Social networks.
Accept More information
Out of the ordinary legs
Ibex owe this ability to balance above all to the shape of their legs. “They have two separate fingers, without a membrane between them, and under their heel they have a membrane which is a bit of a suction cup,” describes Fabienne Marclay.
“It’s quite impressive. As a human, when you walk at the foot or at the top of the dam, it’s really dizzying. And there, these ibex are real tightrope walkers, no fear of heights, quite impressive ease “, comments another photographer.
TV subject: Romain Boisset
Web adaptation: Julien Furrer
#Swiss
