The accounting of the number and condition of the Altai mountain sheep grouping in the cross-border zone of Russia and Mongolia will take place from November 4 to November15 in the Republics of Tyva, Altai and the regions bordering Mongolia. This year, the Sailugem National Park initiates the registration of argali in Russia, and the Interregional Association "Irbis" supports it.

This year, on the part of Mongolia, employees of the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Territories of the Mongolian Altai and the Uvs-Nuur Nature Reserve are working, in Russia, in the Altai Republic: Sailyugemsky National Park, Altai Nature Reserve, volunteers of the volunteer expedition "Onin the footsteps of the snow leopard", in the Republic of Tyva, the Ubsunur Basin Nature Reserve.

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In Russia, the largest argali herds live along the border with Mongolia, in the Altai Republic, and a group of argali numbering about one hundred individuals is found in the neighboring Republic of Tuva. Three of the two cluster sites of Sailugemsky National Park "Ulandryk" and "Sailugem" preserve argali in Altai, however, a significant number of Altai mountain sheep also live beyond the borders of the national park. That is why we are initiating population accounting for the entire territory of the district, and not only within the borders of the national park, but also invite Tuvan colleagues of the Ubsunur Basin Nature Reserve. The most important thing is that the work will be international. Argali is a migratory species, mountain sheep graze in Russia in summer, and in winter they cross the border and go to the low—snow areas of Mongolia, where it is easier to feed, in Tuva the opposite is true. Nevertheless, a single "herd" of Altai mountain sheep grazes in the cross-border zone of Russia and Mongolia. That is why we have been working together with Mongolia’s nature conservationists for many years.

Denis Gulyaev, Deputy director of Sailyugemsky National Park.

Experts start expeditions in parallel on both sides of the border and keep in touch to avoid double counting, which may show too optimistic and incorrect figures, which will affect environmental protection plans.
On November 3, a coordination meeting was held in the village of Kosh-Agach at the visit center of Sailugem National Park. At the meeting, the accounting participants discussed plans, divided into groups, and assigned work routes. Experts will announce the accounting results in December.

At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation approved the Altai Mountain Sheep Conservation Strategy, the main national document that defines the goals and ways to preserve the world’s largest argali in our country. Decree No. 41-r defined the most important tasks: preserving modern stable groups of the species and ensuring conditions for their unhindered migration between Russia and Mongolia, taking into account the growing anthropogenic pressure in the habitats of mountain sheep.

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The strategy is a general action plan of the concerned departments and organizations, the purpose of which is to protect Argali. Next, it is important to develop specific plans in the regions of the species' habitat, the key of which is the Altai Republic. It is here, in the Kosh-Agachsky district, that the main habitat of the Altai mountain sheep in Russia is located.

Denis Malikov, Director of Sailyugemsky National Park.