The Latin word chamois means “rock goat,” which describes these two-foot-high, one hundred-pound antelopes. Both males and females have curved black horns about a foot high and bodies covered with reddish-brown fur, with whitish fur on the head and hindquarters. The kind Creator has given them strong legs and hooves and also large lungs which are necessary to sustain the enormous amount of energy needed for life in the mountains. Their heads are short with sharp eyes and alert, upright ears. They have just a stub of a tail.
Grassy meadows on high mountain peaks make ideal summertime homes, providing nutritious grass, but in winter they go to lower altitudes to escape the cold, fierce winds of the heights. They have an outstanding ability to climb and romp about the mountainsides. A twenty-foot ravine presents no problem for them - they just jump over it! At times, rather than working their way down a long, smooth area, chamois may simply slide down, making a landing on the narrow ledge that has been their target.
These animals are very alert for enemies, such as eagles, lynxes and wolves or even people trying to get near them. When an enemy is still a long way off, chamois guards warn the herd with sharp whistles and stamping hooves, causing the whole herd to disappear immediately among the rocks.
Each herd will strongly resist another herd’s attempt to take over or share its territory. To keep others away, bucks rub a waxy substance from their heads on bushes, trees or rocks. This marking leaves an odor which warns others not to intrude on their territory. Where do you suppose they learned to do this? We know they didn’t need to learn to mark their territories, since it is quite common with many wild animals and a provision the Creator has given for their protection. How good He is to all His creation!
Females usually give birth to just one kid each year, but sometimes there are twins. The kids can walk almost immediately and have no fear of high, rocky places. Like other young, including boys and girls, they are very playful - running, jumping and sliding down snow-covered slopes but never straying very far from their mothers who keep watchful eyes on them.
We should not be surprised to see how well chamois survive in the surroundings that would be very dangerous for humans. The Lord God designed them for that exciting life, and they are included in our opening Bible verse. When the psalmist wrote that wonderful psalm, he exclaimed, “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (vs. 33). We should be happy to do this too.
ML-01/08/2006
JANUARY 8, 2006