Largest living wild sheep
The argali sheep is the largest living wild sheep, recognised by its impressive, long, spiralling horns. The rams (males) are usually larger than the ewes (females), with longer horns (up to 191 cm) that are used to compete with each other during the mating season. They are an important prey species for wolves and snow leopards. The number of argali has declined over the last century, and the species is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has also listed the argali under Appendix II, which includes migratory species with an unfavourable conservation status and requiring international cooperation for their conservation and management. The CMS encourages range states to collaborate through global or regional agreements to protect and manage these species and their habitats. Under CITES, the species is listed under Appendix II, covering species potentially at risk if trade is not controlled.
| Flagship species | IUCN Red List (2020) | KAZ Red Book (1999) | KGZ Red Book (2006) | TJK Red Book (2015) | Approx. population size in the project region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argali Ovis ammon | Near Threatened | Listed | Listed | Listed | 16,705 (KAZ)
21,300 (KGZ) 29,121 (TJK) |
Distribution and habitat
Argali are found in Tibet, the Himalayas, and other Central Asian mountain ranges in Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. They occupy mountains, steppe valleys, and rocky outcrops at elevations from 300 to 5000 m above sea level, preferring undulating but rugged surface terrain with a lack of tall vegetation, using high mountain areas in summer and low ranges in winter. Overall, the range of the argali is highly fragmented with limited connected populations, some of which cross international borders. Argali sheep are found in the central Kazakh Low Hills (Melkosopochnik) and in the Tarbagatay and Saur in the northeastern part of Kazakhstan at the border with China. They are also present in southeastern and eastern Kyrgyzstan, and throughout most of the eastern third of Tajikistan, from the border with China in the south to the border with Kyrgyzstan in the west.
Importance
The argali is a main prey for carnivores such as snow leopards and wolves, hence their conservation is important for sustaining these populations. Ungulates help maintain ecosystem processes within the habitat. Cyclic grazing within their range has positive effects on grassland forage and ecosystem processes. This includes increasing grassland production through regenerative growth after grazing as well as raising nitrogen mineralisation and availability to plants, seed dispersal, and structuring vegetation cover. Beyond the project countries, argali are distributed across mountainous regions in Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Threats
POACHING: One of the most significant threats to argali is poaching, which causes direct mortality and continues to drive population declines. Argali are hunted both for meat and for their large, highly valuedhorns, making them a prime target for illegal and trophy hunting. In addition to direct losses, associated human presence can displace argali from otherwise suitable habitats, forcing them into less optimal areas.
PASTURE COMPETITION: Domestic livestock are serious competitors to argali as they often rely on the same forage plants, leading to reduced food availability and restricted access to key grazing areas. While argali can coexist with livestock in areas with low disturbance, increasing livestock numbers and intensive grazing practices frequently result in displacement, sometimes pushing argali into higher, less productive elevations. Over time, overgrazing degrades vegetation and reduces the quality of mountain pastures, contributing to long-term habitat deterioration. Additional disturbances from herders, motorbike use, and herding dogs can further disrupt argali behaviour and, in some cases, lead to mortality of lambs.
DISEASE: Domestic livestock have also introduced infectious diseases and parasites to the argali, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and sarcoptic mange. As livestock numbers grow and environmental conditions change, the likelihood of disease spread between domestic and wild ungulates also rises. Herders have noted that warming temperatures are causing more disease among livestock herds.
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION: Habitat fragmentation is further isolating the argali population as increased infrastructure development in mountainous regions, combined with disturbance, livestock encroachment, and poaching, reduces connectivity between habitats. This fragmentation can decrease genetic diversity and increase the risk of local extinctions, particularly in small or already isolated populations. In some regions, additional pressures increase these threats. For example, in the Pamirs of Tajikistan, the harvesting of slow-growing shrubs for fuel reduces the availability of winter forage and contributes to long-term habitat degradation, while also pushing livestock further into argali habitats.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Finally, climate change is expected to intensify many of these existing challenges. Warming temperatures and glacial retreat are likely to alter water availability, reduce snowpack, and affect vegetation dynamics in alpine ecosystems. As freshwater sources become less reliable and riparian habitats decline, the availability of key forage areas may decrease, further limiting suitable habitat for argali and increasing competition with livestock.
Salas, EAL, Valdez, R, Michel, S, Boykin, KG. Habitat assessment of Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) in Eastern Tajikistan: Modeling the effects of climate change. Ecol Evol. 2018; 8: 5124– 5138. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4103
Fedosenko, AK, Blank, DA. Mammalian Species, Ovis ammon. American Society of Mammalogists. (2005). No. 773, pp. 1-15
Reading, R., Michel, S. & Amgalanbaatar, S. 2020. Ovis ammon. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T15733A22146397. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T15733A22146397.en. Accessed on 17 March 2023.
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Argali
Salovarov, Viktor O., Daniyar N. Yesmukhanbetov and Zhaskaiyr M. Karagoishin. “DYNAMICS OF ARGALI POPULATION (OVIS AMMON LINNAEUS, 1758) IN KAZAKHSTAN.” Siberian Journal of Life Sciences and Agriculture (2023): n. pag.