Noble Deer (Tien Shan subspecies), Maral / Bugu (male), Maral (female) / Asiatic Red Deer, Tien Shan Maral, Tien Shan stag

Noble deer (Tien Shan subspecies), Maral

Status: Category IV, Endangered, EN C2a(i): R. A sharply declining population throughout its range, the mountain Central Asian subspecies of a Holarctic species; rare in the Kyrgyz Republic. The names C.e. sibiricus Severtzov, 1973 and C.e. songaricus Severtzov, 1873 are not valid as infrapopulations.

Distribution overall and in the country. The range of C.e. asiaticus includes the Tien Shan, Dzungarian Alatau, Tarbagatai Range, Saur, Altai, and Sayan Mountains (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia), as well as Northern Xinjiang and Northern Mongolia up to the Greater Khingan. In Kyrgyzstan, it was widespread in almost all spruce forests in the 19th century, but by 1980 it had disappeared in the Chatkal, Talas, Kyrgyz, Moldotoo, Kavaktoo, Jumgaltoo, Sary-Jaz, Fergana, and Atbashin ranges [3, 9, 41, 47, 48]. Currently, it is found in the Naryn-Too Range and the eastern part of the Terkey and Kunghey Ala-Too ranges [47, 49, 51]. There are no recent data on habitats in the Ulan and Jany-Jer (Jaljyr) gorges in the upper reaches of the At-Bashi River, Kuykap in the Sary-Jaz River basin [47, 51, 52], and on the southern slope of the Jetim Range [9].

Habitats. Spruce forests and shrub thickets at altitudes of 2000-2900 m. In summer, it may move to open treeless areas [3], to subalpine meadows, up to an altitude of 3900 m. [51].

Population. In 1983, when the Naryn Reserve was established, the population numbered 130 [49], in 1985 - 150 [50], in 2003 - about 280 individuals [49], with 1/4-1/2 of this population residing directly in the reserve [3, 50]. In Eastern Issyk-Kul, there are likely solitary, resident individuals and those coming from Kazakhstan [51].

Way of life. It inhabits dense spruce forests and shrub thickets, feeding mainly on herbaceous vegetation. It migrates, sometimes over significant distances. In Eastern Issyk-Kul, movements from Kazakhstan (Chilik River basin) to the Terkey Ala-Too Range (up to the Ak-Suu gorge) and back have been noted [3, 51]. Females with young and yearlings are found in groups, while adult males outside the rutting period are solitary [47]; during the rut (in September - October), males gather harems of 3-10 females [9, 17, 41, 46]. In late May - early June, females give birth to one, less often 2-3 offspring [9, 46]. Females reach sexual maturity in their third year of life. Males shed their antlers annually in May.

Limiting factors. Economic development of habitats (deforestation, intensive livestock grazing) and disturbance factors [9, 50]. Small area of winter feeding grounds [50]. Poaching, mortality from predators (bears, wolves, lynxes) [9, 49]. Heavy snowfall winters in some years, parasites, and diseases.

Captivity. Not conducted. There are known cases of breeding in zoos [9].

Existing conservation measures. Since 1948 [9], a complete hunting ban has been introduced. In 1958, the Teplyklyuchensky and Naryn wildlife reserves were established in habitats, the latter of which was transformed into a state reserve in 1983, covering an area of about 37,000 hectares.

Recommended conservation measures. Expansion of the Naryn Reserve territory and creation of ecological corridors for migrations in the Issyk-Kul region. Reacclimatization, as well as breeding in enclosure conditions, followed by release into the wild. Stricter penalties for poaching and organization of monitoring the wolf population.

Bughu (male), Maral (female)

Asiatic Red Deer, Tien Shan Maral, Tien Shan stag
Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 ssp. asiaticus Lydekker, 1898
Status: IV category, Endangered, EN C2a(i): R. It is a large red deer, sporadically distributed Central Asian subspecies of Holarctic species. The species was numerous 100-120 years ago throughout the territory of spruce forests in Kyrgyzstan, where at present there is one compact population (about 280 individuals in 2003, 150 in 1985) in the Naryn-Too Mountain Range and several small groups occasionally occur in the Eastern part of the Issyk-Kul Region. There were also registered in the 1970s up to 10 specimens in the upper part of the At-Bashi River basin. It populates forest and shrubby landscapes in the mid-montane belt and migrates in summer to subalpine meadows, at 2,000-2,900 (3,900) m above sea level. Individuals are capable of both resident habitation and long migrations (to Kazakhstan and back to the Eastern Issyk-Kul Region). Stags are observed separately throughout the year, except during the rutting period in September - October; calving occurs from the end of May to the beginning of July, with a fertility rate of 1-2 (3) calves. Limiting factors include habitat destruction (deforestation, excessive cattle grazing), limitation of occupancy area and winter feeding, anthropogenic disturbance, poaching, pressure from predators (especially wolves), parasites, and transmissible diseases. It is not held in captivity in Kyrgyzstan, but successful breeding in zoos is known. Protection measures undertaken in Kyrgyzstan include a hunting prohibition (1948), two wildlife areas (1958), and the reorganization of one of those as the Naryn Nature Reserve (1983), which currently covers an approximate area of 370 km². For conservation of the species, it is recommended to expand the protected area in the Naryn-Too Mountain Range, create seasonal ecological zones in migration areas in the Eastern Issyk-Kul region, control the wolf population, conduct reacclimatization experiments in areas of former occupancy, and breed in semi-wild conditions.