alpine ibex

This image of goats (actually Alpine Ibex) impossibly walking on the near vertical Cingino dam (80º) in Italy has been going viral on the interwebs. This dam is located in Northern Italy’s Gran Paradiso National Park and these great photos were taken in 2010. It’s an impressive and death defying feat that they’re performing, but why? Why are they risking their lives to walk on this dam? The answer is simple: Salt. Park officials have stated that the goats are walking out onto the dam to lick salt and minerals off the dam’s stones. But, there’s another answer: Safety. When these goats are on this 80º dam, they don’t have to worry about predators […]