Tahrs are famed for their agility and balance on steep, rocky slopes – and a tiny youngster recently proved exactly why.

In a video published on Table Mountain Experience’s Facebook page, a baby Himalayan tahr is seen making a massive jump to keep up with what is assumed to be its mother.

“We came across a family of tahrs on Fountain Ledge on Table Mountain, and we were just so fascinated by how sure-footed they are and their jumping abilities! Unreal experience,” says the Facebook caption.

According to the Table Mountain Fund, the story of how these exotic, ‘wild goats’ found themselves on Table Mountain ‘is a colourful one’.

“Way back in the 1930s, nestled on the slopes of Table Mountain near the University of Cape Town, was the Groote Schuur Zoo. It covered two hectares of land and had numerous animals such as lions, crocodiles, emus and tahrs – two of which managed to escape.”

Once roaming free, the Himalayan tahr on Table Mountain became an invasive species.

“Fascinating as these shaggy mammals may be, their exotic nature poses serious challenges for the natural biodiversity and fragile ecosystem of the mountain. They contribute to loss of endemic plant life and soil erosion through heavy foraging and over-grazing, and their aggressive species presence threatens that of the klipspringer, an indigenous, ‘rock-hopping’ antelope that has been reintroduced to the region,” reads the Table Mountain Fund website.

With these issues in mind, culling programmes have been carried out by Cape conservation authorities in the past, but have been strongly contested by many of the Cape’s residents.

Watch: Learn more about the Himalayan tahrs on table mountain

@mountaingoatguides

The himalayan tahr on table mountain , mountain goat on Table Mountain this morning on the India Venster route #SAMA28 #tablemountain #lionshead #capetownsouthafrica

♬ sonido original – Luis Zamora