攀岩，是人类挑战自身极限的一项运动。在动物界，也有一位攀岩高手，被称为“岩壁上的精灵”，它就是岩羊。

Rock climbing is a sport that challenges people to their limits. In the animal world, there is also a Master Rock Climber, an "elves on the wall"--the Bharal.

岩羊主要栖息在海拔2100-6300米的高山裸岩地带，这就是它名字的由来。而这一地带，与其天敌雪豹的栖息区域高度重合。虽然雪豹攀岩能力也很强，但大都通过伏击或者在相对平坦的山路上才能较大概率捕杀岩羊。

The Bharal mainly lives in the bare rock of high mountains at altitudes of 2,100-6,300 meters, hence its name. This area overlaps with the habitat of its natural predator, the snow leopard. The snow leopard is also a strong climber, but they can only hunt Bharal by ambush or on relatively flat trails most of the time.

岩羊是如何练就“飞檐走壁”绝技的呢?岩羊善于攀岩，蹄子功不可没。蹄行动物最大的特点是用趾甲走路，脚与地面的接触面积较小。而岩羊的两个脚趾可以分开，从而将与地面的接触面积最大化，这使得它们在悬崖峭壁上有了“容身之处”。

How do they learn to fly on rocks? The secret lies in their hooves. Hoofed animals walk on their toes, so their feet have a small contact area with the ground. The two toes of Bharal can be separated to maximize the contact area, which spares them more "room" on the cliff.

所以，岩羊的攀岩绝技，连雪豹都自叹不如。 “常在河边走，哪有不湿鞋!”岩羊有一个致命的弱点，就是在被追击时，总是喜欢跳到一个相对稳定的地方(通常是山脊)，然后回头观望，再转身飞奔而逃，往往容易在这个时候失足摔下悬崖。

Bharal climbs so well that even the snow leopard can't compete. "If you often walk by the river, you will definitely get wet shoes!" When being chased, they like to jump to a relatively stable place (usually a ridge) and then look back and run away. This is a fatal weakness that often gets them to fall off the cliff.