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In a coordinated effort between Polish and Slovak Tatra National Parks, 926 chamois were observed during the autumn counting initiative in the Tatra Mountains, as reported by the Slovak Tatra National Park (TANAP) on Monday.
Of the observed chamois, 659 were spotted on the Slovak side of the Tatras, while 267 were seen on the Polish side. The joint Polish-Slovak counting action took place on November 7, with favorable conditions for observation despite morning rain in lower areas.
“Based on the collected data, we can conclude that the chamois population is satisfactory. While we would prefer a count above a thousand, we do not observe a radical decline in the population,” assessed Erika Feriancová, a zoologist from the Slovak TANAP.
Last year’s autumn count documented 1222 individuals. Chamois in the Tatras are counted twice a year, focusing on young individuals in spring and determining the overall population status in autumn.
Chamois, a protected species, live in small herds led by an experienced female with a young, called a fawn. Males, known as bucks, typically live alone or form bachelor groups, joining herds during the autumn mating season. In Poland, chamois also inhabit the Sudetes, introduced in the early 20th century by the Czechs.