"Rupicapra rupicapra"
Photographed on my second trip to the Picos de Europa, this was the first time I had the opportunity to see a Rebeco up close. I was trekking in Puertos de Aliva when I was followed by two of them. Discreet and embarrassed, they stayed away almost all the trek, watching us from the top of the mountains, but side by side with us all the time. It was almost at the end of the trekking when they got used to our presence in such a way that they got to be within 10 meters from us. That's when I decided to put the telephoto lens and try my luck. I needed to be quick because I didn't know how long I could keep this closeness. I was frankly surprised at how willing they were to be with my presence. Not very normal in this species, I think! It was funny because sometimes it looked like they wanted to be photographed! For more than 30 minutes, I "danced" between limestone rocks, which so well characterize the Picos de Europa National Park, always very discreet and calm, photographing as much as they permitted me. From this moment, I fell in love with this species! A species that unfortunately no longer exists in Portuguese territory and which I remember all the time with a special fondness.
