The Irbis Association, in collaboration with the Sailugem National Park, has compiled a summary of the results of the count of Altai mountain sheep (argali) in the transboundary zone of Russia and Mongolia. Notably, for the first time since 2023, when monitoring of the species' numbers in the transboundary zone of the two countries began, the number of argali in Russia has surpassed that of neighboring Mongolia: 4074 individuals in Russia, compared to 3904 in Mongolia.

This shift can be attributed to increased scientific expeditions and enhanced anti-poaching efforts in recent years. The Interregional Association "Irbis" has expressed support for a project aimed at preserving the Altai mountain sheep. This initiative is driven by the recognition that argali serve as a crucial forage base for snow leopards, particularly in the Sailugem Range. As Ali Uzdenov, Chairman of the General Meeting of the Interregional Association 'Irbis' notes, "Everything in nature is interconnected, and by saving one species, we will save another."

The total number of the transboundary group was 7,978 individuals of the rare mountain sheep. Of these, 3,756 were in the Altai Republic, the main habitat of argali in Russia, 318 were in the neighboring Tyva Republic, 2,240 were on the Sailugem Ridge in Mongolia, and 1,664 were in the territory of Uvs-aimak. This figure is notable when compared to the 2,957 argali recorded in Russia and the 4,024 recorded in Mongolia the previous year.

The argali, a rare species of mountain sheep, inhabit the border regions of the Altai and Tyva Republics, near Mongolia in Russia. The distribution of argali in Russia is as follows: Altai Republic (Sailugem Range: 2,240 individuals, Chikhachev Range: 144, South Chuysky Range: 24).

In November, scientists from Russia and Mongolia conducted a joint survey of red-listed Altai mountain sheep (Argali) with the support of the Interregional Association "Irbis." The following organizations participated in the survey: Sailugemsky National Park, Ubsunurskaya Basin and Altai Nature Reserves, Altai Nature Parks Directorate, and in Mongolia, the administration of the Mongolian Altai Protected Area.