In Russia, the Altai mountain sheep shares its home with the snow leopard and at the same time becomes its main prey. Especially where Siberian ibex are not found or their numbers are small. For example, on the Sailugem ridge in the Altai Mountains on the border with Mongolia.
It is here in our country that herds of Altai mountain sheep are concentrated — the largest argali on the planet, the horns of males of which can reach 15−20% of body weight.

Males and their crowns

The big male argali wears a gorgeous crown that helps him win tournaments for females and take over his entire harem. However, it is the bone crown of the males that is a tasty morsel for a poacher who longs to decorate the walls of his house with such a gorgeous trophy as argali horns.
The big argali. The male Altai mountain sheep looks directly into the camera lens so that you can understand why it is considered the largest argali on the planet.

Moms are mountain sheep

The first is a male argali, the second is a female lamb mother. Please do not confuse.

Argali females have small horns, for appearance’s sake. Why would they? They do not fight for males, accept courtship, and bring offspring to the harem. So-so feminists. Males are formidable guys. On his head is a bone crown up to 35 kg. What kind of pillow is needed!
During battles, sheep fight with leaden foreheads and horns — only the noise is worth it! More precisely, a knock, like the sound of a gunshot, which can be heard from a couple of kilometers away. Huge horns are a sign of an adult male, and also a curse for mountain sheep. For the sake of horns, a valuable trophy that is so nice to nail on the wall, poachers get them.

Rare footage — female argali alone

For herd animals, such a solitary fashion show is an exception. The camera managed to capture a female Altai mountain sheep in proud solitude.

However, it is a bad idea for mountain sheep to stay alone. You’ll quickly become prey to a predator. It’s easier to hide in a herd and run away, confusing a wolf or a snow leopard. And even here, relatives are most likely somewhere nearby, they just didn’t get into the lens.

Fighting for the heart of a beautiful lady

In October and November, Altai mountain sheep have a rutting season. The video shows the battle of two males for females. Usually, a younger and weaker male, after several close encounters with an opponent and blows with his forehead, gives up and simply leaves.
The stronger and more mature one catches up with the opponent for some time, but no longer fights with him, it’s already clear whose women they are. If the opponents are equal, the fights can last even a quarter of an hour.

Horny beauties silently watch the fights from the side. I don’t want to throw you a perfumed handkerchief, or an armful of grass, or blow you a kiss with my hoof. They are just waiting for the winner in silence. But he definitely gets everything, the whole harem.

The video was shot in November by Alexei Kulikov, a researcher at Sailyugemsky National Park, while taking into account the number of argali on the Sailyugem ridge.

Horned families

A family of the largest sheep on the planet. Mountain sheep communicate by bleating, distinguishing each other’s voices. But if you think their conversations are the sweet bleating of lambs, watch the video and change your mind.
We promise, turn on the sound and your life will never be the same again.

In Russia, the main group of Altai mountain sheep lives in the Kosh-Agachsky district of the Altai Republic, on the border with Mongolia, where the Sailugem National Park has been established to protect rare ungulates. A small group of 200 Argali live in neighboring Tuva.

What are the threats and how to save argali

Despite argali’s protected status in Russia, cases of poaching are still being recorded. Nevertheless, the number of argali has doubled in the last 10 years!
Huge horns are a sign of an adult male, and also a curse for mountain sheep. For the sake of horns, a valuable trophy that is so nice to nail on the wall, poachers get them.

Illegal hunting is the main threat to argali in Russia.

Climate change is the second threat. Severe winters with high snow, it is impossible to reach the grass, or spring thaws, and then frosts that bind the grass cover with an icy shell.
Habitat change is the third. If a large road passes through Argali’s house, mountain sheep habitats will turn into mining sites, and mountain sheep will leave these places.

And this argali was captured by employees of Sailyugemsky National Park in the Altai Republic.

It’s not just snow leopards, manulas, and wolverines that are surprised by automatic cameras. Sheep also look at camera traps as a new gate. Licking, sniffing and pushing a strange new object is typical for Argali. And it was a great idea to install a camera at the marking stone. The video was shot in Sailyugemsky National Park.

Last fall, the Interregional Association "Irbis" supported the accounting of the number of argali in Russia, and continues to help anti-poaching teams and researchers in protected areas.
According to the data of 2023, the number of Altai mountain sheep in the cross-border zone of Russia and Mongolia has doubled since 2014. Scientists from Russia and Mongolia explain this fact by the effective protection of mountain sheep. The number of argali in the transboundary zone of Russia and Mongolia:

in 2023 — 6921−6981 individuals, 732 individuals more than in 2021 (in Russia — 2950, in Mongolia — 4024 individuals),
in 2021 — 6189 individuals,
in 2019 — 4886 individuals,
in 2017 — 4675 individuals.

In addition to combating poaching and supporting scientific research, it is important to foster a careful attitude towards mountain sheep.
The Interregional Association "Irbis" has supported the Argali-Bendy bandy tournament, the highest-altitude in Siberia. The tournament has been held for many years on a high-altitude lake in the village of Kosh-Agach in the Altai Republic at an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level. Argali Bendi is named after a rare Altai mountain sheep (argali) and is designed to draw attention to the protection of the species in Russia.

The Interregional Association "Irbis", through the hands of colleagues from Sailyugemsky National Park, handed over prizes for athletes — clubs, bags for sports equipment, thermoses for frost, sports water bottles and organized a tent with hot tea and sandwiches. The temperature dropped to -30 degrees on the day of the tournament.
We haven’t told you half the interesting facts about Altai mountain sheep, and we will definitely continue to tell you not only about our favorite snow leopards, but also about their neighbors in the natural apartment.