Since 1965, hunting of gazelles has been prohibited in Mongolia, and in 2001, the country's government recognized them as a "rare" species, listing them in the Red Book of endangered mammals.
A man has been arrested in Mongolia for illegal hunting of the black-tailed gazelle, which is endangered.
The Mongolian Environmental Police reported on Wednesday the detention of a man accused of poaching black-tailed gazelles.
According to the police, the suspect was caught attempting to sell the skins of two black-tailed gazelles in the vicinity of Ulaanbaatar.
The statement also noted that the investigation is ongoing.
Under current legislation, a guilty party for killing and poaching a black-tailed gazelle may face a fine of up to ₮6.6 million (approximately $1880) or a prison sentence of at least two years.
The gazelle (lat. Gazella subgutturosa) is an even-toed ungulate mammal from the family Bovidae.
These animals have a body length of 93 to 116 cm, a shoulder height of 60 to 75 cm, and weigh between 18 and 33 kg. Males have black lyre-shaped horns about 30 cm long, while females lack horns but may sometimes have rudimentary horns up to 3-5 cm.
The coloration of the upper body and sides is sandy, while the underside, neck, and inner sides of the legs are white. The winter coat is lighter than the summer coat. A small white spot on the hindquarters is called a "mirror." When running, the gazelle raises its tail vertically, and the black tip stands out against the white "mirror," which is how it got the name "black-tailed."
Young gazelles have a dark brown spot on their muzzle and two dark stripes that become less noticeable over time.
Tatar S. Maydar
source: MiddleAsianNews
