Ibex Switzerland: Smuggled, saved, trophy

The Alpine ibex was completely exterminated in Switzerland by 1820. Its survival is owed to one of the most adventurous species-conservation stories in Europe: from 1906, poachers commissioned by Swiss conservationists smuggled ibex kids across the border from the royal hunting reserve at Gran Paradiso in Italy. The Federal Council covered for the illegal operation and told customs officers to look the other way. 59 smuggled kids, raised in the Peter und Paul wildlife park in St. Gallen, form the foundation stock of all the more than 21,000 ibex in Switzerland today (Federal Hunting Statistics, 2024 population) and roughly 40,000 across the entire Alps (National Museum, 2022; Swiss National Park, 2020). This success story has been undermined since 1977 by the hunting of the species, and since 2025 by the reintroduction of trophy hunting in the canton of Valais. For up to 25,000 francs, foreign recreational hunters may once again shoot the 'king of the Alps'. In 2024, more than 7,000 ibex were counted in Valais, more than ever before (Canton of Valais, 2024). 624 have been released for killing, including 34 bucks over 11 years of age, those with the most imposing horns (SRF, 2024; 20 Minuten, 2025). The IG Wild beim Wild states: 'Trophy hunting is cowardly and a character reference of poverty' (Controversial Ibex Hunting In Valais).

Profile

The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is a species of wild goat and belongs to the family of bovids (Bovidae). It is the heraldic animal of the canton of Grisons and a symbol of the Swiss Alps. The ibex lives at altitudes between 1,600 and 3,200 metres, above the treeline, on steep rock faces and ridges. It is perfectly adapted to life in the high mountains: its hard, flexible hooves give it a grip on the steepest rock.

The buck reaches a weight of 75 to 120 kilograms and a shoulder height of 85 to 92 centimetres. The female ibex is considerably smaller and lighter (40 to 55 kilograms). The most impressive feature of the buck is its massive, backward-curving horns, which can grow up to a metre long and weigh as much as 15 kilograms. The horns grow throughout life and carry annual rings, from which the animal's age can be determined. Female ibex also bear horns, but these are much shorter (15 to 30 centimetres).

Biology and Way of Life

The ibex is active by day and lives in separate-sex groups: bucks form bachelor groups, while females live with their kids in mother-and-young herds. The sexes only come together during the rut in December and January. Old bucks with large horns play a central role here in reproduction and in the cohesion of the herd. The biologist and Green cantonal MP Brigitte Wolf (Valais) stresses: «The killing of old bucks is very delicate, because they are important for reproduction and for the cohesion of the herd» (SRF, 2024). The gestation period is around 170 days. A single kid is usually born in June. The ibex feeds on grasses, herbs and lichens, and in winter also on dwarf shrubs and bark. It is strictly vegetarian. Its life expectancy is 15 to 20 years.

Genetic bottleneck

All ibex in the Alps descend from a single remnant population in Gran Paradiso. The Swiss National Park documents that today's animals have passed through several genetic bottlenecks (remnant population, removal by poachers, rearing in a wildlife park, release into different areas). The consequences of this high rate of inbreeding are lower body weight, reduced horn length and an increased risk of parasite infestation (Swiss National Park, 2020). Targeted trophy hunting of the largest and genetically most valuable bucks aggravates this problem further.

History: from extermination to smuggling thriller

The extermination

For centuries the ibex served as a "walking pharmacy": almost every part of its body was credited with healing powers. The horns were supposed to help with stomach and intestinal cramps, the bezoar stones (stomach stones) were thought to counteract poisoning, and the so-called heart cross (a hardened cartilage of the heart valves) was said to make its bearer invulnerable. Even ibex droppings were regarded as a remedy for sciatica (Surselva Hausbuch; Nationalmuseum, 2022). The last ibex in the Glarus region was killed as early as 1550. Although the Three Leagues imposed a hunting ban in 1612 on pain of death, the ibex was extinct in the Grisons by 1640. The last ibex in Valais fell in 1809 or 1820, depending on the source. In 1875 the ibex was placed under federal protection, half a century after it had already died out in Switzerland.

The smuggling thriller

The last 100 to 200 Alpine ibex survived at Gran Paradiso in northern Italy, protected by King Vittorio Emanuele II, who reserved the exclusive hunting rights for himself and employed 50 game wardens. Official Swiss requests for breeding pairs went unanswered. On 6 June 1906, the St. Gallen hotelier Robert Mader and the Aosta Valley poacher Joseph Berard met in Martigny for a strictly secret meeting. Berard delivered the first two smuggled ibex kids, at 800 francs per animal (today around 30,000 francs). The kids were raised with baby bottles at the Peter und Paul wildlife park in St. Gallen (Beobachter, 2017; Nationalmuseum, 2022). By 1933, 59 smuggled kids had reached Switzerland. The Federal Council financed the purchases and instructed customs officers to let the smugglers pass (Beobachter, 2017). From 1911, the first captive-bred animals were released into the wild. In 1920, seven ibex arrived in the Swiss National Park, accompanied by a brass band and a large crowd (Schweizerischer Nationalpark, 2020).

The success story

The reintroduction became the greatest species conservation success in Swiss history. According to the Federal Hunting Statistics, the cantons counted 21,527 ibex in Switzerland in 2024, around 18 per cent more than in 2016 (18,209); roughly 40,000 animals live across the entire Alps (Schweizerischer Nationalpark, 2020). In 2024, 1,238 ibex were shot across Switzerland, including 369 males and 469 females aged three and over. The FOEN will not publish the figures for 2025 until the end of 2026 (Swiss Hunting Statistics 2025). In 2024, more than 7,000 animals were counted in Valais for the first time (Canton of Valais, 2024).

More on this: Dossier: Recreational hunting and biodiversity

Hunting: From Protection Back to the Trophy

Legal situation

Under the Federal Act on Hunting (JSG), the ibex is a protected species. Since 1977, individual cantons have been allowed to regulate populations under strict conditions. In 1988, the Confederation permitted regulation nationwide, with FOEN approval required for every kill quota. Each canton needs the consent of the Federal Office for the Environment before it can release ibex for killing. FOEN determines the number of kills and the breakdown by age and sex (NZZ, 2017).

The Valais 'Ibex Safari'

From 1991, Valais was the only canton to allow foreign and out-of-canton recreational hunters to shoot ibex for payment. The longer the horns, the higher the price: up to CHF 20,500 (Watson, 2025). Private hunting agencies such as «K&K Premium Jagd» (Germany) marketed the «experience», in some cases including a helicopter flight over the Alps (NZZ, 2017). In 2016, the American hunting influencer Olivia Opre shot a Valais ibex for her trophy collection. The television broadcasters SRF Rundschau and RTS exposed the practice. 70,000 people signed a petition calling for a ban on ibex safaris. In 2021, the canton of Valais introduced a ban (Watson, 2025; SRF, 2024).

The Reintroduction in 2025

At the end of 2024, the canton of Valais lifted the ban again. From 2025, foreign and out-of-canton recreational hunters are once again allowed to shoot ibex. The price: CHF 25,000 for foreigners, around CHF 12,500 for Swiss residents of other cantons. In 2025, 16 foreign and 13 out-of-canton people registered; demand exceeds supply (20 Minuten, 2025). The canton expects revenue of CHF 460,000, 60 per cent of it from foreign clients (20 Minuten, 2025). The canton stresses that the 'malfunctions' of the past have been remedied: no more hunting agencies, pricing by age rather than horn length, accompaniment by game wardens. Watson comments: 'Nevertheless, the whole thing resembles trophy hunting: non-Valaisans may only shoot male animals over eleven years old, that is, those with the most massive horns' (Watson, 2025). The canton confirms that only the category of bucks aged eleven and over is available to foreign and out-of-canton clients (Canton of Valais, 2024). According to the Federal Hunting Statistics, there were 329 bucks of this age class living in Valais in 2024.

What other cantons do differently

In the canton of Bern, a recreational hunter may shoot only one ibex buck and one ibex female in a lifetime. The kill costs a maximum of CHF 850 including the basic fee. Foreign recreational hunters are not admitted (NZZ, 2017). JagdSchweiz, the umbrella organisation of recreational hunters, views the issuing of licences to foreign clients in Valais with 'mixed feelings' and considers hunting tourism a 'misguided strategy' (NZZ, 2017).

In Grisons, the ibex hunt in 2026 runs from 5 October to 8 November. Which buck may be shot depends on the age of the hunter: bucks aged six and over are only available from the age of 55, when the kill fee rises from CHF 160 to CHF 660. The old buck thus becomes a privilege at the end of a long recreational hunter's life (Grisons Hunt 2026/27).

More on this: Animal welfare problem: wild animals suffer agonising deaths because of recreational hunters

The problem with trophy hunting: why old bucks must not be shot

Genetic erosion

Trophy hunting systematically targets the largest, oldest and genetically most valuable bucks. These animals carry the best genes for size, survivability and reproductive success. The Swiss National Park already warns of the consequences of genetic bottlenecks: lower body weight, reduced horn length and an increased risk of parasite infestation (Swiss National Park, 2020). The selective removal of the best bucks by trophy hunters reinforces precisely these negative trends.

That recreational hunting does in fact select for horn length is shown by data from Grisons: Büntgen et al. (2018, Journal of Animal Ecology) analysed 44,088 horn growth measurements from 8,355 ibex killed between 1978 and 2013. At the same age, bucks with medium to longer horns were shot more frequently. At the same time, the authors regard the strictly monitored Grisons system as an example of how tightly controlled interventions can maintain populations (Hunting Fact Check).

Social structure of the herds

Old bucks play a central role in the social structure and reproduction of ibex herds. The biologist Brigitte Wolf (Greens Valais) stresses that killing them disrupts herd dynamics (SRF, 2024). When the most experienced bucks are missing, reproductive success and the social stability of the group decline. IG Wild beim Wild documents: «As researchers have since discovered, old bucks with large horns are central to the survival and health of the population» (Controversial Ibex Hunting In Valais).

Ethics: killing as a luxury pastime

Trophy hunting of ibex is not wildlife management but a luxury pastime for affluent clients. The ibex has «no hunting pressure and little flight instinct, so they can be killed relatively easily», admits Eric von Schulthess, a former hunting tour operator (Blick, 2025). Killing a trusting, hardly timid animal for 25,000 francs has nothing to do with hunting in the traditional sense. It is a service provided by the canton of Valais to an international community of trophy collectors.

Ecological significance

High-mountain ecosystem

The ibex is a keystone species of alpine ecosystems. Through its grazing, it keeps alpine pastures open, promotes plant diversity and prevents the encroachment of scrub on steep grassland above the treeline. Its droppings fertilise nutrient-poor high-mountain soils and serve as a food source for insects.

Food chain

The ibex is prey for golden eagles (kids and young ibex) and wolves. The return of the wolf to the Swiss Alps represents a natural regulation of ibex populations that works without human intervention and strengthens the genetic fitness of the population by selecting weak and sick animals, in contrast to trophy hunting, which removes the strongest animals.

Indicator species and symbolic animal

The ibex is an indicator of intact alpine habitats and the heraldic animal of the canton of Grisons. It is the most photographed wild animal in the Swiss Alps and a tourist magnet whose living value exceeds the proceeds from its killing many times over.

What needs to change

Immediate ban on trophy hunting for foreign and out-of-canton clients in Valais: Marketing a protected wild animal to wealthy trophy collectors is ethically indefensible, harmful to wildlife biology and damages Switzerland's reputation. The 70,000 signatures on the 2019 petition expressed the will of the people unmistakably.
Ban on the selective killing of old males: If regulation of ibex populations is necessary, it must not target the genetically most valuable animals. Removing old males with large horns is counterproductive from a wildlife-biology perspective and serves solely to produce trophies.
Professional wildlife management instead of recreational hunting: Where it is demonstrably necessary, the regulation of ibex populations should be carried out exclusively by professional game wardens, not by recreational hunters who pay for the “experience”. The Geneva model, in which wildlife management has been carried out by professional wardens since 1974, shows that this works.
Promote natural regulation by predators: The return of the wolf offers the chance of a natural regulation of ibex populations that strengthens the genetic fitness of the population instead of weakening it. The coexistence of ibex and wolf is the most sensible solution from a wildlife-biology perspective.
Genetic monitoring and exchange: The low genetic diversity of Swiss ibex must be monitored through national monitoring and improved through targeted exchange between colonies and, where possible, through imports from the original population at Gran Paradiso.

Talking points

“There are too many ibex, they have to be regulated.” The need for regulation is often asserted across the board, but rarely substantiated in a differentiated way. 7,000 ibex in Valais sounds like a lot, yet the entire Swiss population goes back to a few dozen smuggled founder animals, with a correspondingly narrow genetic base. The carrying capacity of their habitats is regulated by natural mechanisms (food availability, winter, disease, predators). If culling is necessary, it must be carried out by professional game wardens according to wildlife-biological criteria, not by paying trophy clients who deliberately target the biggest bucks.

“It makes no difference who carries out the kill, whether a Valaisan or a foreigner.” If it makes no difference, why does the kill cost foreigners 25,000 francs and Valaisans only a fraction of that? The price difference shows that this is not about regulation but about revenue. Demand exceeds supply, and a lottery decides who gets to shoot an old buck. That is not population regulation, that is a business model.

“The rules have been tightened, there are no more safaris.” The cosmetic changes (pricing by age rather than horn length, no more agencies) do nothing to alter the core issue: non-Valaisans may only shoot males over 11 years old, which means precisely those animals that carry the largest horns. Anyone who pays 25,000 francs for an ibex wants a trophy. That is not regulation, that is trophy hunting in a new guise.

“The ibex is not endangered, so it can be hunted.” The ibex is not endangered because it has been protected since 1875 and because poachers smuggled it illegally out of Italy. Using this success story as an argument for resuming trophy hunting follows the same perverse logic as with the beaver: a species is protected until it recovers, and is then degraded into a trophy object.

“Trophy hunting brings the canton important revenue.” CHF 460,000 in revenue is set against reputational damage that cannot be measured in francs. The ibex is the heraldic animal of Grisons and a symbol of the Swiss Alps. Selling it to wealthy foreigners for CHF 25,000 as a kill damages Switzerland's image as a country of nature conservation and undermines the moral authority with which Switzerland takes part in international species protection negotiations. In the long run, a living ibex as a tourist attraction is worth more than a dead ibex as a wall trophy.

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Related dossiers

sources

FOEN, Federal Hunting Statistics: Ibex, population and kills 2016–2024, retrieved on 21.10.2026 (jagdstatistik.ch; population 2024: 21,527, kills 2024: 1,238)
Swiss National Park (2020): How the ibex found its way back to the National Park, 100 years of reintroduction (nationalpark.ch)
Swiss National Museum (2022): Wildlife smuggling, ibex in a crate (blog.nationalmuseum.ch)
SAC (2011): 100 years of ibex in the Swiss Alps, a successful reintroduction (sac-cas.ch)
Beobachter (2017): Stolen and rescued (beobachter.ch)
Watson (2025): Ibex safari in Valais permitted again from 2025: What this means (watson.ch, 31.3.2025)
SRF (2024): Controversial trophy hunting: Foreigners allowed to hunt ibex in Valais again (srf.ch, 12.12.2024)
20 Minuten (2025): Valais: Foreigners may shoot an ibex for CHF 25,000 (20min.ch, 3.7.2025)
Blick (2025): CHF 25,000 for a buck: How hunting works in Valais (blick.ch)
SWI swissinfo.ch (2024): Foreigners allowed to hunt ibex in Valais again (swissinfo.ch, 17.12.2024)
SRF (2021): Valais head of hunting makes explosive statement on ibex hunting (srf.ch, 25.10.2021)
NZZ (2017): The most expensive trophies go abroad (nzz.ch)
Walliser Zeitung (2025): Controversial ibex hunting in Valais (walliser-zeitung.ch)
IG Wild beim Wild (2025): Controversial ibex hunting in Valais (wildbeimwild.com)
Canton of Valais, Department for Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife (12.12.2024): Regulation of the ibex, client kills open again to foreign and out-of-canton hunters (vs.ch)
Büntgen, U. et al. (2018): Horn growth variation and hunting selection of the Alpine ibex. Journal of Animal Ecology 87: 1069–1079
Giacometti, M. (ed., 2006): Von Königen und Wilderern. Salm-Verlag
Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds (JSG, SR 922.0)
Animal Welfare Act (TSchG, SR 455)

Our Standard

The story of the ibex in Switzerland is a mirror of how we treat nature. We wiped it out because we attributed magical healing powers to its body. We brought it back because private individuals broke the laws of a foreign country and smuggled kids across the border. The Federal Council financed this illegal operation and let the customs officers look the other way. It was a story of courage, passion and the realisation that Switzerland is poorer without the king of the Alps.

Today more than 21,000 ibex live in Switzerland, a triumph for species protection. And what do we do with this triumph? We sell it. For 25,000 francs, wealthy foreigners in Valais may shoot the most powerful buck of a herd, the very animal that is genetically the most valuable and central to reproduction and the cohesion of the group. Demand exceeds supply. The canton expects revenues of 460,000 francs. That is the price the canton of Valais demands for the dignity of the heraldic animal of Grisons.

The 2019 petition gathered 70,000 signatures. The ban was enforced. And then it was lifted: since 2025 the canton has once again been selling the kills of old bucks to foreign and out-of-canton clients. The Valais government calls it "regulation". Watson calls it "trophy hunting in new clothes". IG Wild beim Wild calls it "cowardly and a testimony to poor character".

The conclusion is clear: trophy hunting of ibex must be banned throughout Switzerland. Where regulation is necessary, it should be carried out by professional game wardens, according to wildlife-biology criteria, without trophy production and without a price list. The ibex is not a consumer good. It is an animal we very nearly lost, and we must not thank it for its return with a price tag. This dossier is updated continuously as new figures, studies or political developments require.

More on the topic of recreational hunting: in our hunting dossier we bring together fact checks, analyses and background reports.