With the support of the Irbis Association, Sberbank PJSC, and the Saylyugemsky National Park, a survey of the number and condition of the Altai mountain sheep (argali) will be carried out in the transboundary zone of Russia (the Republics of Altai and Tuva) and Mongolia.
In the Republic of Altai, the argali will be counted in the Russian part of the Saylyugem Ridge and adjacent areas — where the largest argali populations are traditionally recorded — as well as in the Chikhachev and South Chuya Ridges. In the Republic of Tuva, the survey will be conducted on the Chikhachev Ridge by the staff of the Ubsunur Hollow Nature Reserve. At the same time, Mongolian colleagues will be working in the border area on the other side of the border. The specialist groups will maintain regular communication and will be able to track the movements of animal groups to avoid doublecounting.
Mongolian conservationists will also receive new equipment and gear from the Irbis Association and Sberbank PJSC: automatic cameras, binoculars, and spotting scopes for visual observation of the animals; a set of winter clothing; and tents and sleeping bags for comfortable overnight stays in the field.

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The joint support of the Irbis Association and Sberbank continues to unite and strengthen conservation work in different countries within the range of rare animal species. This time, we are not only helping Russian scientists with their traditional work but also supporting specialists from Mongolia to ensure more effective interaction between experts and successful monitoring

said Darya Petrova, Director of the Interregional Association "Irbis"

Participants in the survey in Russia will include staff from the Saylyugemsky National Park, the Altai Nature Reserve, and the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Republic of Altai; in Mongolia, representatives of the Mongolian Altai Special Protected Areas Administration. Ahead of the fieldwork, specialists from Russia and Mongolia discussed the dates and field routes, agreed on the methodology, and arranged data exchange.

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The transboundary argali population has historically inhabited an area that is now divided by the borders of two countries. Studying and conserving rare mountain ungulates through the efforts of just one country is impossible. Essentially, this is a single ‘herd' of ungulates migrating from one country to another, and only joint monitoring ‘across borders' will allow us to track changes in the size and structure of the transboundary population of rare argali and take timely conservation measures

emphasised Denis Malikov, Director of the Saylyugemsky National Park, who will coordinate the specialists' work.

In the highlands of Altai, November is a month when snow is already on the ground, temperatures drop below zero, and strong winds blow. The field expeditions will take place in challenging weather conditions; specialists will travel on foot, by car, and by snowmobile.
Conservation specialists from the two countries are conducting the argali survey in accordance with the Species Monitoring Programme, approved by Russia and Mongolia in 2022. Since 2018, surveys of the number and condition of the argali group in the transboundary zone of Russia and Mongolia have been carried out as part of the work of the joint RussianMongolian commission on environmental protection.