Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)

Whether it is the stocky forest chamois or the slender rock chamois, this animal is the athlete of the high slopes. Thanks to its powerful muscles, it can climb 400m upwards in 5 minutes and springs over ravines in 7 to 12m bounds. Snow patches and glaciers are its playground: its hooves adapt to the terrain and cushion it from shocks, its spurs serve as brakes and the sharp edge of its hooves are like crampons on the harder areas of snow.