The decline of this subspecies of Spanish Ibex has left the entire species continued survival in question. With the first subspecies, the Portuguese Ibex becoming extinct in 1892, it was followed by the Pyrenean just over a hundred years later.

Native to the Iberian Peninsula, this ibex, also known as a bucardo in Spanish, the Pyrenean Ibex was found throughout Portugal, Spain, Andorra, and France. Quick to adapt, they spread throughout many rocky habitats with relative ease throughout their wide range. However, they came into conflict with humans as they spread their own domestic livestock grazing grounds to accommodate a growing population.

This coupled with the pressures of hunting for both food and sport dwindled their numbers from their height during the Middle Ages, to a small population in Ordesa National Park in the 20th century. Introduced disease, competition for food, and poaching was a final nail in the coffin for this ibex.

The last individual was Celia, found dead on January 6th, 2000.

Yet, the Pyrenean Ibex was the first animal to become “unextinct” when a cloned female was born in 2009. This individual, however, only lived for seven minutes before dying of lung defects.

Extinction Date According to the IUCN Red List: 2000