Alpine ibex (Capra ibex Linnaeus, 1758) in Bulgaria – Fossil Records, Distribution and Extinction

An analysis of the past geographical, altitudinal and chrono-stratigraphical distribution of the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) remains in Bulgaria is given, based on published data. The paper summarises all scattered data of the last 96 years on the distribution of the species in the country. Data of 25 fossil/subfossil localities (Middle Pleistocene – Early Holocene) from Bulgaria are presented. The records prove the wide distribution of the species mainly in the mountain and hilly landscapes in North Bulgaria. The localities were spread at 40 to 1280 m a.s.l. but majority of them were located bellow 600 m a.s.l. Most data originate from the prehistoric cave dwellings of the Paleolithic people. Two other species (C. aegagrus and C. caucasica) have also been reported from Bulgaria, remains of the former revised as C. ibex.