Maral — Bughu
Maral — Cervus elaphus L. (in Kyrgyz: male — bughu, female — maral)
The first information about the distribution of the maral in the territory of modern Kyrgyzstan can be found in the works of N. A. Severtsov (1873), who noted its presence in the mountains around Issyk-Kul, along the Naryn River and the Kyrgyz Ridge (Shamsi Gorge and further west to the Ala-Archa River). In the 1800s, the maral was widely distributed throughout the republic, found across all ridges of Northern Kyrgyzstan where spruce forests grew (Talas, Kavak, Jumgal, Toguz-Toroo, At-Bashinsky, etc.). It was absent only in the south of Kyrgyzstan and, as claimed by D. P. Dementyev (1946), in Talas. However, this last report was disproven by the discovery of maral antlers by ranger S. D. Stetsenko in 1968 in the floodplain of the Talas River. The past presence of marals in the Talas Valley is also confirmed by stories from the old-timers of the village of Kirovka. In the 1940s, according to D. P. Dementyev (1946), marals were found in the basin of the Sary-Jaz River and on the ridges along the Naryn River valley. As the author points out, accurate data exist regarding Naryn-Too, Baibiche-Too, Toguz-Toroo, and the basin of the Uzun-Akhmat River. Marals were also found in the upper reaches of the Naryn River near the Taragay and Karasai areas. Numerous finds of their antlers in these places are known to us.
The data presented about the distribution of the maral show a significant reduction and fragmentation of its range by the early 1950s.
Currently, the distribution of the maral in Kyrgyzstan can be represented as follows. It is found on the Kungey Ala-Too ridge, in the upper reaches of the Karkara and Tyup rivers, in the Altyn-Arashan area (Terskey Ala-Too), in the upper reaches of the At-Bashi River (in the Jangi-Dzher and Ulan areas), on the northern slope of the Terskey Ala-Too ridge within the Upper-Kemin forestry, on the northern slopes of the Naryn Ridge, and within the Naryn Nature Reserve.
Overall, marals have survived only in the most inaccessible areas for humans or in protected places.
As for former habitats such as the Kyrgyz, Talas, and At-Bashinsky ridges, as well as the areas of Sary-Jaz, Baibiche-Too, Toguz-Toroo, Taragay, Karakaya, Jumgal, and the basin of the Uzun-Akhmat River, the maral is now absent here. Summarizing the current distribution of the maral in Kyrgyzstan, it is important to note the disappearance in some areas and the appearance in others. Overall, there is a tendency for some expansion of the range, although it is still dispersed across separate areas. Alongside this, there is a general increase in the number of animals.
When discussing the distribution of the maral, it should not be forgotten that this animal is characterized by significant movements within its range, and often changes its location. There have been multiple observations of marals appearing in some areas and disappearing in others. Additionally, there is a constant movement of marals from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan and back (in the upper reaches of the Karkara and Tyup rivers).
In the Tien Shan, the maral is a typical inhabitant of spruce forests, which it generally prefers; however, in the summer, when a large number of horseflies and blood-sucking insects appear in the spruce belt, the animals migrate to the alpine meadows. This explains the finds of maral antlers on the Sary-Jaz and Pokrovsky alpine meadows. In winter, marals prefer areas with little snow in spruce forests. They are also found in other types of habitats but generally avoid sharply dissected terrain with rocks and stony debris.
From late August to early September, the marals enter the rut, which is preceded by the complete hardening of the young antlers. The shedding of antlers occurs in spring, around May. Immediately after shedding, new ones begin to grow. During the rut, males can be very agitated, emitting loud calls known as "roars." Often, fierce fights occur between males, and sometimes the combatants die, unable to separate their locked antlers without outside help. The rut and roaring usually end after a month, after which males separate from females.
The gestation period is 8.5 to 9 months. Before giving birth, females retreat to secluded places where they give birth to one, and rarely two spotted calves, which are helpless during the first days of life but quickly gain independence. The spots remain until the first molt. The molting in marals occurs twice a year — from late March to early April.
In summer, the maral primarily feeds on various herbaceous vegetation, while in winter, late autumn, and early spring, it eats twigs of trees and shrubs. It readily visits salt licks.
The maral possesses great physical strength and agility, so its range of enemies is relatively limited. Wolves are the most harmful, especially in winter, when they can kill a significant number of marals; the lynx is second, but due to its low numbers, it is unlikely to cause substantial damage.
Red Book
