Global warming forces ibex to transform from diurnal to nocturnal animals , despite increasing the risk of becoming prey to wolves. It is the result of research by the University of Sassari published in the prestigious international scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences.

The response of this alpine animal to the increase in temperatures is the increase in nocturnal activity both in areas where the wolf is present (in the Gran Paradiso National Park) and in areas where the predator is not yet present (Swiss National Park ). The need to live in ideal conditions from a thermal point of view is more important than the risk of being preyed upon. This could also mean that climate change - in the long run - could be really dangerous not only for ibex but also for other species poorly adapted to higher temperatures .

Conducted by Dr. Francesca Brivio and Professor Marco Apollonio of the Department of Veterinary Medicine with the contribution of the University of Ferrara and the two protected areas, the study demonstrated that the increase in nocturnal activity in relation to temperature is similar in both males and in females, even though the latter weigh about half as much as males and have decidedly smaller horns, therefore facing a higher risk of predation.

The direct consequences of the research for now are essentially two. First of all, if animals change the times of day in which they are active, it will be necessary to review our wildlife management activities, for example censuses, because during daylight hours it will be more difficult to find and count animals. Furthermore, it will be essential to reduce other sources of stress that could further force animals to be less active during the day. For example, reducing the presence of tourists in the areas most used by ibex or avoiding helicopters flying over them.