An ibex's hooves are made for climbing. Each hoof is split into two parts that can spread apart to grip the rock. The bottom of the hoof is soft and rubbery, almost like a climbing shoe, so it sticks to slippery stone. The hard edges around the outside catch on tiny cracks.
Male ibex grow huge curved horns that can be over 1 metre long. They use them in friendly head-butting contests with other males in autumn. The horns keep growing for the ibex's whole life, getting one new ring every year - so you can count the rings to see how old an ibex is, a bit like counting the rings of a tree.
Ibex live high up the mountain, often above the snow line. In summer they eat grass and mountain flowers. In winter they come down a little to find food, but they prefer to stay where there are no wolves or bears. Their thick winter coat keeps them warm even when it is far below freezing.
The reason ibex sometimes climb dam walls is to lick salt off the stones. Their bodies need a little salt, and the rock at the dam has minerals that they can't find anywhere else. So they walk up the wall, lick the rock, and walk back down again - holding on with those clever split hooves.

