The alpine ibex is a conservation success story, but individual welfare in mountain habitats remains shaped by harsh winters, predation, and disease.
Alpine ibex face seasonal welfare peaks in winter, when food scarcity forces them to lower altitudes with greater predation risk and human disturbance. Sarcoptic mange outbreaks can devastate local populations, causing intense itching, hair loss, and eventual death from hypothermia and secondary infections. Affected animals suffer for weeks to months. Avalanches kill ibex in significant numbers in some winters. Despite these challenges, ibex appear to be physiologically adapted to harsh conditions, and healthy populations show good body condition through most years. Population management and disease monitoring by wildlife agencies is important for maintaining welfare at the population level.