| Capra hircus cretica |
Russian Критский дикий козел, Кри-Кри дикий козел, Агрими (Критский и греческие острова населения) English Cretan Wild Goat or Agrimi, Kri-Kri Ibex; German Kreta Wildziege; French Chèvre sauvage crétoise; Spanish Cabra de Creta, Bezoar de Creta; Greek Κρητικό αγριοκάτσικο; Cretan Αγρίμι (Agrimi) |
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| IUCN Red List |
Listed as NA (Not Applicable), Giorgos Giannatos, Juan Herrero, Sandro Lovari 2006 (IUCN, 2007 European Mammal Assessment) natural populations only |
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| CITES |
Not listed |
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| USF&WS |
Not listed |
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| EU |
Listed as Capra aegagrus on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats and Species Directive (natural populations only); |
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| Distribution |
Greece (Crete, Theodorou, Atalanti, Sapienza) |
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| CIC Medal Categories |
Bronze |
Silver |
Gold |
| CIC Point Value |
250.00 – 269.99 (cm) |
270.00 – 299.99 (cm) |
300.00 + (cm) |
The Cretan wild goat persists with relic populations in the White Mountains (Lefka Ori, National Park of Samaria), western Crete, restricted to an area of about 72 km2, and on the small islet of Theodorou off Crete’s northwestern coast of. A free-ranging population, probably originating from Lefka Ori, occurs on Mt. Parnitha near Athens. Agrimi were introduced on the Greek Islands of Sapienza and Atalanti in the early 1980s. Apparently there are a number of other small populations in private areas and state controlled hunting reserves which are said to be of Theodorou stock. Populations on the Greek islands of Dia, Agii Pantes, Erimomilos, Samothrake, Gioura and others are now all considered hybrids of "wild" and modern domestic or feral goats, as are the fenced Agrimi populations in the Czech Republic and Macedonia.
The horn architecture is characterized by scimitar-shaped sharply keeled horns. The horns emerge close together on the forehead, displaying a parallel development occasionally somewhat divergent at the tips. There are only two specimens from Crete, dating from 1906 and 1981 respectively, registered in Rowland Ward. Newer trophies from the past decade or so are all from introduced island specimen, e. g. from Sapienza Island. The longest horns measure around 100 cm (39 3/8 in.); the mean is around 78.4 cm (30 7/8 in.). Base circumferences are between 15.6 cm (6 1/8 in.) and 20.3 cm (8 in.). The feral-goat hybrids occurring in the Cyclades and elsewhere, have considerably shorter horns and those from the Northern Sporades turn outward with a slight twist into an open spiral shape.
Agrimi are strictly protected in Crete and the adjacent islets like Theodorou Island. Very low quotas of Cretan wild goat are available for hunting on Sapienza and Atalanti. The rules governing access and hunting on the islands are very strict. It was suggested that it may be desirable to eradicate the hybrids. However, F1 hybrids would be difficult to distinguish from pure Agrimi in external appearance or behavior. Compared to Agrimi, the hybrids’ coat appears to be slightly longer and interspersed with black hairs, the horns are curved outwards a little more and are more robust, and the resting tail is held more horizontal than downwards.
