Chamois distribution

 
 
Until the eighties of the 20th century, 10 chamois subspecies for the whole species range were described, belonging to one species - Rupicapra rupicapra.
More detailed study of the chamois origin, structure and behaviour has lead to the recognition of two different species – southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) with three subspecies distributed in Southwest Europe and northern chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) including seven subspecies distributed in the rest of the species range.
 
Subspecies Latin name Geographical distribution Country SCI no.1 Population
Southern Chamois - Rupicapra pyrenica.
1. Cantabrian Chamois R. pyrenaica
parva		 Cantabrian Mountains Spain. 23 15.000
2. Pyrenean Chamois / Isard R. pyrenaica
pyrenaica		 Pyrenees Mountains France,
Spain.		 283/8 42.800
3. Apennines (Abruzzo) Chamois R. pyrenaica
ornata		 Abruzzo National Park Italy.   > 1.600
Northern Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra.
4. Chartreuse Chamois R. rupicapra
cartusiana		 Chartreuse limestone massif France. 263/8 2.000
5. Alpine Chamois R. rupicapra
rupicapra		   Austria,
France,
Germany,
Italy,
Liechtenstein,
Switzerland,
Slovenia,
Slovakia.		 305/8 > 500.000
South Island New Zealand 304/8 18.500
6.Tatra Chamois R. rupicapra
tatrica		 Tatra Mountains and in Low Tatra National Park. Slovakia,
Poland.		 25 > 700
7. Carpathian Chamois R. rupicapra
carpatica		 Transylvanian Alps and in the Carpathian Mountains Romania. 313/8 > 6.400
8. Balkan Chamois R. rupicapra
balcanicа		 Balkan Albania,
Bulgaria,
Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia,
Greece,
Montenegro,
Serbia,
Kosovo,
Macedonia.		 311/8 > 9.000
9. Caucasian Chamois R. rupicapra
caucasica		 Caucasus Mountains Azerbaijan,
Dagestan,
Georgia,
North Ossetia.		 256/8 > 6.000
10. Asian (Anatolian) Chamois R. rupicapra
asiatica		 Anti-Taurus Mountains
Turkey,
Georgia.		 286/8 > 500
Făgăraş Mountains, Romania

The Făgăraş Mountains, Romania.
 
Carpathian Chamois - Gemse

Carpathian Chamois, CIC 114 point, (SCI 284/8 ) taken in the area of the Negoiu Peak,
a mountain peak in the Făgăraş Mountains, Romania, with an altitude of 2,535 metres (8,317 ft). It is the second highest peak in Romania after Moldoveanu Peak (2544m).