Chamois arrived in New Zealand in 1907 as a gift from the Austrian Emperor, Franz Joseph. The first surviving releases were made in the Aoraki/Mount Cook region and these animals gradually spread over much of the South Island. In New Zealand, hunting Chamois is unrestricted and even encouraged by the New Zealand government’s Department of Conservation, to limit the impact they have on New Zealand’s native alpine flora.
As a mountain dweller, the chamois is excellently adapted to living in rugged, rocky terrain. Its climbing abilities are only surpassed by the Alpine Ibex. A fully grown chamois reaches a height of about 75 cm (2.5 feet) and weighs about 50 kg (110 lb).
