Tajikistan Argali Populations
Abundance and Population Characteristics of Tajikistan Argali
SCI Foundation has been a supporter of cutting edge work on argali in the southern Pamir Region of eastern Tajikistan, one of the primary strongholds for Marco Polo sheep. This ecosystem stretches from the western tip of China to the northern stretches of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Situated at an elevation between 13,000 and 24,000 feet, this high alpine environment was once part of the Silk Road and through which Marco Polo himself traveled. Marco Polo reported that this argali had horns that were so long local people could build a fence with them. It wasn’t until the new millennium in 2001 that surveys and studies of this majestic species could be carried out.
Species: Marco Polo Argali Sheep
Project partner: New Mexico State University and Tajikistan Academy of Sciences
SCIF Investment: $500,000+
SCIF involvement: 2010-2018
Study Outcome
SCI Foundation participated in one of our longest running project in Asia which occurred over 8 years and significantly contributed to the conservation of Marco Polo Sheep. This project helped determine science-based harvest quota in Tajikistan along with a positive ruling in Mongolia regarding Argali hunting. Community-based conservation continues to grow in Tajikistan, with sustainable harvest of argali sheep and other species as a critical component. Some of the study findings included:
- Population characteristics of Argali Sheep in the eastern Pamir region of Tajikistan.
- Estimated population densities and male population age class structure.
