SAVE ARGALI

Argali are the largest known in the world wild mountain sheep, they inhabit a broad range of habitat types, ranging from rolling, high elevation steppe to more mountainous, rugged terrain and live over a vast geographic area, with main populations to be found in China, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and smaller ones in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan. While the state of argali populations varies from country to country, they all suffer from pressures relating to livestock grazing, habitat loss, unsustainable hunting and poaching. At the same time, habitat degradation, extraction of mineral resources, linear infrastructure and border fences disturb their migration routes. The adult males’ impressive horns make them particularly valued and prized by trophy hunters.

The Argali sheep is related to the universally known domestic sheep. Individuals are counter-shaded, ranging from light tan to dark grey above, and nearly white below. The curled horns of the males are the largest of any wild sheep, and can reach 190cm in length per side. Females also sport horns, but these do not curl beyond half circle and are considerably less robust than the males’.
Argali inhabit mountains, steppe valleys and rocky outcrops (Reading et al., 1997; Schaller 1998; Amgalanbaatar and Reading, 2000; Harris 2007); they also occur in open desert habitats at the south-eastern end of its range (Reading et al., 2003; Tserenbataa et al., 2004; Reading et al., 2005). Argali are sensitive to deep snow, particularly if forage is limiting; often migrating from high mountain habitats during winter, but are present all year round at lower elevations in the Gobi desert (Reading et al., 2005). Most argali live on alpine grasslands between 3,000-5,500 m, often descending lower in winter (particularly if snow accumulates to more than a few cm). In some areas, (e.g., Gobi desert of southern Mongolia, Karaganda area of Kazakhstan), they live in lower elevation, semi-arid areas. They generally avoid forested areas (except in Kazakhstan, where they are presumed to occupy forests because of displacement from preferred habitats, Fedosenko and Blank 2005). They prefer to occupy open areas with a gentle slope; females generally occupy steeper (cliff) terrain following lambing. Argali feed on grasses, sedges, and some herbs and lichens, and they regularly drink from open springs and rivers. Where sympatric with blue sheep they are more likely to occur in grass-dominated commities compared to the sedge-dominated commities occupied by blue sheep. (Harris and Reading, 2008)

The present distribution patterns and population figures are the result of relentless poaching, range fragmentation and a general deterioration of habitat quality caused by increased human population and livestock numbers. (NCI 2006)