Marco Polo — Argali
Marco Polo Sheep — Ovis ammon L. (in Kyrgyz: male — kulja, female — arhar)
The Marco Polo sheep is distributed over a significant territory of Kyrgyzstan, mainly in high-altitude areas along the state border from Khan Tengri Peak in the east to the Fergana Range and Alai Valley in the west. The most numerous populations of Marco Polo sheep are found in the Sary-Jaz, Jetty-Oguz, Pokrov, and Ton ranges, as well as in the valleys of the Ak-Sai and Arpa rivers. They are less frequently encountered in the mountains surrounding Lake Son-Kul and the Susamyr Valley, as well as in the upper reaches of the Big Kemin, Semizbel, in the Talas Range, and on the southern slopes of the western part of the Kyrgyz Range. Marco Polo sheep are typical inhabitants of high-altitude steppes, alpine meadows, and foothills of the ranges.
They rarely enter rocky outcrops and stony debris, although there have been cases where Marco Polo sheep have climbed into the rocks for overnight shelter. These rocks are located on one of the watershed ridges separating two rivers: Ichke-Kyzyl-Su and Orto-Kyzyl-Su (Ak-Sai Valley). Marco Polo sheep tend to stay in the same locations for several years and are quite reluctant to leave them, which usually occurs as a result of human activity. Over two decades, we observed Marco Polo sheep in the Ak-Sai Valley within the high-altitude steppe zone. These observations demonstrated how human activity has altered the distribution and population of Marco Polo sheep. Back in the 1940s, in the central part of the Ak-Sai Valley, it was easy to count three to five herds of Marco Polo sheep, each consisting of 80–100 or more animals. Surveys conducted in subsequent years (1958 and 1959) in the same areas showed that their numbers had decreased. During territory inspections, at best, we could encounter one herd of Marco Polo sheep with 5–10 animals.
The current situation with Marco Polo sheep in this part of the valley is due to the large number of people engaged in the development of the ranges. It is no secret that many residents, both permanent and temporary, living in the Ak-Sai Valley, violate existing hunting rules and seasons by hunting Marco Polo sheep year-round, often using dogs for this purpose. As a result of this situation, Marco Polo sheep have become quite rare in areas of intensive pasture development, moving to hard-to-reach, almost unvisited places located on the northern slopes of the Kok-Shaal-Tuu and Kok-Kiya ranges.
In July 1960, we managed to count a herd of Marco Polo sheep numbering up to 200 individuals in one area of Eastern Ak-Sai, 60 km west of the Daiykov pass, where 20–50 Marco Polo sheep could often be seen in the Kyo and Ueengugush areas, located in the upper reaches of the Muduryum River (Ak-Sai Valley), beyond the Kubergenty Pass. A significant number of Marco Polo sheep, as observations showed, are concentrated in the gorges of the southern slope of the At-Bashin Range, within the western boundaries of the Tash-Rabat area and the eastern boundaries of the Ken-Su area. However, Marco Polo sheep in these locations only stay until the arrival of shepherds with their flocks of sheep, after which the majority move to the border zone located in the southern part of the valley.
A special count of Marco Polo sheep conducted in 1965 in the Ak-Sai Valley in the Sary-Mek, Terekti, and Kulja-Bashi areas, as well as in the Sary-Bel Mountains, showed a rather uneven distribution and population. For instance, in the upper reaches of the Sary-Mek River, a herd of Marco Polo sheep numbering 108 individuals was found. In total, in the surveyed area of 100,000 hectares at the end of July, there were about 2,000 Marco Polo sheep. However, this apparent abundance of animals is just a small fraction of what was observed in the early 1940s. Currently, the territories of the Ak-Sai, Arpa valleys, and other areas have become summer and winter pastures, concentrated with tens of thousands of sheep. Certain areas of the ranges are being developed for agriculture, various exploratory works are being conducted, roads and permanent settlements are being built, and there is active transportation. All of this, along with poaching, has ultimately led to a sharp decline in the population of Marco Polo sheep across the vast expanses of the high-altitude ranges of the Tian Shan.
For Marco Polo sheep, as well as for ibex, seasonal migrations are characteristic. With the onset of cold weather and snowfall, the animals move to sun-warmed areas where there is often little snow, but they do not leave the ranges. At the same time, there are known movements of Marco Polo sheep down the slopes of the Kunghey Ala-Tuu in winter.
At different times of the year, the quantitative, age, and sex composition of the herd varies. Typically, during the summer, adult males stay separately in small groups of 5–10 individuals. Only occasionally can solitary males be seen. During this same time of year, females with lambs and young ones aged 2–3 years sometimes form quite large herds, up to 100 or more animals, in which we have observed several adult males. Such large herds often do not break apart until the next summer. Regardless of the herd's numerical composition, there is always a leader — an older male or female.
The rut for Marco Polo sheep occurs in November. During this period, quite fierce fights occur between sexually mature males in the herd, while females and young ones continue to graze, ignoring the fighting males. The blows exchanged between the males are so strong that they can be heard over long distances in calm weather. At the height of the rut, males are in a state of strong excitement, chasing after females without giving them a moment's peace. Usually, the rut lasts for a month, but sometimes it can extend to 1.5 months.
The gestation period is about 5 months, based on the onset of the rut in November and the capture of newborn lambs at the end of March. Like male goats, female Marco Polo sheep seek more secluded, wind-protected areas before giving birth, where they usually have one, and rarely two lambs. In the first few days, the lambs are helpless and immobile, but after 5–6 days they can walk freely with their mother, and after 10–12 days they can be difficult to catch on horseback. As for adult Marco Polo sheep, they run very fast; with their heads thrown back, they leap away from pursuers, reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h. We have often had to "compete" with Marco Polo sheep in a car. Generally, they always try to outrun the vehicle and cross its path. The claim that a Kyrgyz horse can easily catch a Marco Polo sheep on level ground is not substantiated.
Female Marco Polo sheep reach sexual maturity at the age of two years. Males reach sexual maturity at about the same age. The average lifespan of Marco Polo sheep in natural conditions does not exceed 6–8 years, while the maximum lifespan is recorded at 15 years.
Marco Polo sheep have a highly developed sense of smell; they can detect foreign scents from up to 500 meters or more away, depending on the wind. When an unexpected danger appears, the first male to detect it emits a whistling sound.
Marco Polo sheep shed their wool once a year in spring. In Kyrgyzstan, molting can last from early April to late May; however, the timing of its onset and, consequently, its end can vary depending on the climatic conditions of the year and the state of the animal itself.
The main food sources for Marco Polo sheep in the ranges are the ubiquitous types of grass such as feather grass and other cereals. They readily eat rhubarb, which they come to enjoy on the gravel beds of rivers where it grows abundantly, while simultaneously drinking water. It is quite common to see grazing Marco Polo sheep on alpine meadows, but overall they prefer high-altitude steppes with feather grass. Their need for salt is satisfied by the naturally occurring salt licks that are quite common.
Marco Polo sheep, like other animals, have enemies, with wolves being their primary threat. Wolves hunt Marco Polo sheep year-round, but particularly many are lost to predators' jaws in winter. A pack of wolves pursues Marco Polo sheep through deep snow until the animals tire. There is also a known hunting method used by wolves on Marco Polo sheep: in the Ak-Sai Valley, after Lake Chatyr-Kul freezes over, wolves drive them onto the icy surface where they can easily catch them. While walking around the lake in summer, one can see up to a dozen skeletons of Marco Polo sheep. As for the snow leopard, attacks on Marco Polo sheep are extremely rare.
In winter, when there is a deep snow cover, shepherd dogs can catch up to Marco Polo sheep, and they can also be considered among their enemies. Finally, the golden eagle and the bearded vulture hunt lambs, which we have observed repeatedly.
Red Book
