WSF Supports Central Asian Wild Sheep & Goat Conservation

A familiar figure emerges as the day begins on a jagged, rocky peak. Silhouetted by the sun, its muscular body supports a head held high with deep, curling horns that can only be a mountain sheep. But this one is far bigger than a record-class Dall's sheep or even the heaviest Rocky Mountain bighorn.

It's an Altai argali, the world's largest wild sheep.

Weighing up to 450 pounds with horns that can measure more than 60 inches, these massive, majestic animals live in the remote mountains of Central Asia. 

In 2023, Kurt Alt, Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) Director of International Sheep & Goat programs, got to help survey these mountain monarchs in Mongolia.

"It was such an honor getting to observe Altai argali with wildlife officials from Mongolia. The sheep are huge, and such amazing creatures, and the biologists here are very thorough and dedicated," Alt said. "Best of all, we helped connect Kazakhstan scientists to participate in the survey to foster cooperation among these nations on wild sheep and goats."

Mountain landscape in Kazakhstan

 

Regional Cooperation

WSF is helping to assemble a wild sheep and goat working group of Central Asian nations, including Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Work in the region has already helped bring in Asian WSF affiliates.

"We're proud to have three WSF affiliates in central Asia. We have the Mongolian Wildlife Association, which has been an affiliate since 2019, and in 2023, we brought on the Mongolian Wildlife Argali Research Center and the Arlan Foundation (Kazakhstan). We're starting to see some very positive things happening in Asia," Alt said.

WSF has also dedicated $30,000 as part of this Grant-In-Aid to help explore the disease issue in Asia through hunter-cooperation. This funding supports Dr. Martin Gilbert of Cornell University's work with hunters, which he has conducted in Kyrgyzstan since 2017. The study's approach uses low-tech methods, preserving dried blood samples on unique filter paper strips from animals harvested during managed hunts to overcome the logistical difficulties of sampling in remote mountain locations.

Alt said another project in the works brings together scientists from these nations to do necropsy training. “We want to use our vast experience from North America to help them put together programs to manage their resources and help them establish hunter-based conservation programs that benefit the wildlife and people of their communities."
 

Courtesy Karen Seginak | WSF Annuli Photo Contest

 

Vast Landscapes & Stunning Biodiversity

This work is being done in the world's most biodiverse mountain habitats, which cover millions of square miles. Mongolia, for example, is roughly the size of Alaska and is the most sparsely populated independent nation in the world. 

Tajikistan covers approximately 143,100 square miles, with over 90 percent of its landmass above 3,000 feet.

Kyrgyzstan’s beautiful valleys and high-altitude plateaus contribute to a very remote territory. 

Kazakhstan, the largest landlocked country in the world has steppe and desert habitats, as well as mountain ranges with super-high peaks in the east and south. 

Wild sheep in Central Asia include the Transcaspian urial, which is a little smaller than a desert bighorn. Rams produce massive horns and sport beautiful white beards.

The Gobi argali inhabits a high desert and can look a bit like a Stone's sheep in coloration but is much larger. 

Marco Polo sheep roam the highest regions with the low end of their range at14,000 feet and are coveted by many hunters.

Beautiful Siberian ibex and the mysterious-looking markhor inhabit nations WSF is currently working with as well.

Jack Atcheson, Jr., WSF International Vice-Chair said Bukharan markhor in Tajikistan in particular are an inspiring conservation story that shows how positive work is being done in Asia. “Their numbers had gotten down to just a few hundred. Through conservation efforts protections were put in place and now the population is thriving. There are now limited hunting permits issued and funds from the up to $100,000 it costs to hunt one of these markhors go back to the resource and the community.”

Atcheson said helping Central Asian nations create a sustainable hunting model that reflects the highly successful North American Model for Wildlife Conservation will reap great benefits.

“It helps the resource, hunters and the people living in these remote communities in the beautiful mountains of Central Asia,” he said.

As the world changes in drastic fashion and new challenges to hunting rise more frequently than ever, WSF's efforts in Asia become even more important. Helping establish sustainable hunting initiatives for wild sheep and goats in these epic mountain countries by aiding local scientists will help ensure continued hunter access.

Most importantly, it will create a powerful incentive to conserve these amazing mountain creatures.
 

---

 

Contributing Author: Chester Moore is an award-winning wildlife journalist and lifelong hunter from Texas. He operates the Higher Calling Wildlife® blog and podcast and contributes to many outdoors publications.