Jayran — black-tailed gazelle, gazelle
Dzhayran — Gazella subgutturosa Giild (in Kyrgyz: kara-kuiruk, zheiren)
The dzhayran has a relatively limited range. There are reports of dzhayrans being found in the barren steppes of the southwestern part of the Issyk-Kul basin (Semizbel Plateau and the Orto-Tokoy area). There are also records of dzhayrans in the Kalmak-Ata area on the northeastern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul and on the southwestern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in the Agolen area.
The dzhayran was quite widespread in the Issyk-Kul basin in the 1930s. Currently, it has survived only in isolated areas of the foothills of the Terskey Ala-Too range, including small valleys: Chon-Dzhokutoy, Kichik-Dzhokutoy, and Tonrak-Bel. All of them are located near the central estate of the Ula-Khol state farm. As for the Kochkor Valley, which was inhabited by dzhayrans in the 1940s and early 1950s, they disappeared due to the construction of the Orto-Tokoy reservoir and increased transportation activity. Some dzhayrans were killed by poachers, and the survivors, due to the drastic transformation of their habitats, moved to areas located in the southwestern part of the Issyk-Kul basin. In 1968, another unexpected location where dzhayrans were found was established. This is the Kanigut mountains, located in southern Kyrgyzstan, near the village of Batken. According to reports from geologists (from the geological exploration team) and local residents, they repeatedly saw dzhayrans in numbers of up to 10 heads in 1967. This information about the distribution of dzhayrans in Kyrgyzstan provides some basis for speculation about a broader range of this species in the past.
Current habitats are typically represented by typical semi-deserts with sparse vegetation, consisting of white wormwood, ephedra, and other plants, with dense-grained grasses and chiy occasionally found. In the past, when dzhayrans were more widely distributed, they were found in areas of stony desert and in the foothills of the ranges.
Animals concentrate in small groups in different areas. Dzhayrans usually stay in small groups of 3-7 individuals. They can typically be found in the early morning hours and in the evening during feeding. Their need for water is often met by visiting the same water bodies, which are connected by fairly well-marked permanent trails. It is known that they molt twice a year: in spring — in February and in autumn — in September-October. The mating season occurs from November to December. During the rut, fierce fights occur between males, resulting in significant injuries for some of them.
Young are born in late April and May. Usually, the female gives birth to two offspring, which, like other representatives of this order, are quite helpless in the first days. However, after 3-4 days, they can follow their mother, and at the age of 10-15 days, they can run as fast as she can. Incidentally, the dzhayran can run at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
Dzhayrans primarily feed on the herbaceous vegetation that grows in their habitats. Among known enemies, the wolf is the primary predator, while young dzhayrans often fall prey to foxes and golden eagles.
The dzhayran is an endangered species in Kyrgyzstan, not becoming extinct due to natural causes, but disappearing due to poaching. As a result, dzhayrans are listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan.
Red Book
