Assessment of trophy qualities and habitats of the Kazakhstan ibex population. The title, however, is loud)). But without false modesty I will say that I have the right to the authorship of the article on this subject. The fact is that for fifteen years I have been looking for my champion, we are talking about the trophy of the Siberian or Central Asian ibex. Moreover, my scouting and hunting expeditions last practically the whole season and cover the whole territory of the mountain massifs of Kazakhstan. I have become the leading specialist in the estimation of the ibex population, first of all because no one else is interested in it. The other teriologists work on saiga, which are listed in the Red Book, argali and leopards. Some researchers work only on paper and, of course, do not present a real picture. And a handful of outfitters who work with trophy hunters do not climb the mountains themselves. My zoological training and my habit over the last ten years of methodically writing everything up in reports have contributed to my knowledge.
So, let's get started.
The first thing to note is that there are two species (subspecies) of ibex in Kazakhstan. These are the Central Asian or Tianshan ibex and the Altai or Siberian ibex. Let me remind you that Soviet science did not separate these animals into separate species and we were taught that all these animals were Capra sibirica, i.e. Siberian ibex. However, trophy hunters all over the world separate these two species and now I am inclined to think that this is very reasonable because they are very different. As the name suggests, they have different ranges: the Central Asian species lives in the Tien Shan Mountains and the Dzungarian Alatau, while the Siberian species lives only in the Altai Mountains. In fact, the populations are separated by the Dzungarian Gate and the Irtysh River, a distance of about 1000 kilometres.
I will start with the Siberian ibex, as its numbers in Kazakhstan are low and its range is small. Today, the range of this species includes the Altai Mountains of Kazakhstan, its central part and the mountain massifs. If you look at the map, you can see that almost the entire population is now in the territory of the Katon-Karagai National Park, and only a few ibex enter the territory of the Regional Hunting Society. I had several opportunities to hunt in the Archaty area when hunting was allowed in national parks. This high-mountain gorge is characterised by low snow cover in winter, which makes it very attractive for hoofed animals. The ibex used to gather in large numbers in late October, when the snow was deep, and the best time to hunt was in late November, when the animals would gather in herds during the rutting season. The world champion of this species of ibex was shot in Mongolia and measures 135 cm. I have taken 124 and 112 cm. I think it was possible to find a new champion in this area because animals from China, Mongolia and Russia, which are a few dozen kilometres away along the mountain ridges, gathered here to spend the winter. This area is a real terra incognita - no one has climbed beyond the first pass for decades. I can say with certainty that the actual number of Siberian ibex is underestimated, but in fact we saw 250-300 animals during one day of observation in one gorge alone. In addition, the guides who accompanied me on one of my hunting expeditions told me that they had shot a goat with horns 137 cm long. However, I did not manage to find this trophy, it was lost somewhere in Azerbaijan. In general, this is a promising area for trophy hunting and if hunting in SPNA is opened one day, you know what to do)). Some male licences allocated to the Hunters' Association can be bought, but the problem is that according to the SPNA management, there have been no trophy ibexes in their area for a long time and the population is small. I have not verified this information.
The Altai Siberian ibex is undoubtedly the most beautiful ibex in the world. Its winter colouring is simply gorgeous: dark brown, chocolate collar on pale, almost white skin looks very spectacular. Incidentally, there are no registered trophies from Kazakhstan in the SCI record book, and from Russia only one from Khakassia (we are talking about the first thirty), all the rest are Mongolian. Apparently there were some good trophies in the Altai, but it seems that the hunters, like myself, did not register them.
Central Asian ibex. We undoubtedly have the largest population and range in the world. Despite the fact that brotherly Kyrgyzstan holds the world championship, the number of ibex in Kazakhstan is undoubtedly greater. And the size of the champion's trophy depends not only on the number of animals, but also on other factors, which we will discuss later.
Three main habitats can be distinguished: the northwestern Tien Shan mountains, which include the Sairam and Ugam ranges; the northern Tien Shan mountains, called the Zailiyskiy Alatau and Kungei Alatau, which include the Ketmen Ridge; and an isolated section of the Dzungarian Alatau, which is the largest in terms of population size. The ibex of southern Kazakhstan are primarily a group inhabiting the Aksu Dzhabagly Reserve and the adjacent Sairam-Ugam National Park. Aksu Dzhabagly is one of the first reserves in the country with an excellent protection system. It is thanks to this reserve that there is a constant supply of animals to the neighbouring areas. I have hunted in Sairam Ugam many times when it was open, and I would like to point out that the trophy range of ibex in these mountains is excellent. Not least because of the border with Uzbekistan, where hunting is virtually forbidden, I have taken trophies of 137cm and 136cm, and a hunter brought in by outfitters ProHunt took a trophy of 145cm. However, hunting has been banned in the national parks since this year and we can only hope that it will be reopened in time.
Southern Kazakhstan is not just Shymkent. A little further east, near the town of Merke, there are also ibex. There, on the border with Kyrgyzstan, is a very thorough hunting farm, where the well-known David Campbell took trophies of 132 and 136 cm a few years ago. But the population on this farm is small, as is the carrying capacity. So, they can't take many hunters, but this territory should be kept in mind!
Almost all of Zailiyskiy Alatau is included in several specially protected areas. There are three national parks: Kolsai, Ile-Alatau and Charyn, several wildlife sanctuaries and the Almaty reserve. The close proximity of these places to the metropolis makes poaching by cars and helicopters a real threat to the trophy row. That's why it's really only possible to find something special in backpack hunting. Gold medals were not uncommon in the days of open hunting, but I never managed to take a trophy over 130 cm. Although there is information that taxidermists have received a trophy, probably shot from a helicopter, with horns of 156 cm, it was a world champion at the time. This may be true, as the area of the Almaty Reserve is difficult to access even by helicopter, and in this area animals can live to an old age under special conditions.
Years of observing ibex populations in the wild have revealed what I believe to be the main reasons for the premise of super trophies. Let's talk about them.
1) Genetic abnormalities associated with large body size. Big horns tend to go hand in hand with a big body, the logic is clear: a tall two-metre man, for example, has proportionally large hands.))) The number of genetic giants is generally small. The proportion is probably about the same for different mammalian species, but in any case it is no more than 2% of their total number. In humans, however, the proportion of giants over 190 cm is as high as 6% in some countries.
2) Genetic predisposition also plays a role. It is no secret that wild animals of the same species, such as deer, roe deer or ibex, have differences in body and horn size depending on their habitat. For example, large red deer are known to live compactly in Kolsai, and Siberian roe deer in Kustanai. The ibex has similar territories. Probably it is connected with mineral and fodder base in these territories. However, in the case of bovids, which, unlike deer, do not shed their antlers, the age to which the animal will live is still of primary importance. This is directly related to how the animal will survive the winter after the mating season.
3) A harsh winter. Let me remind you that the mating season of the ibex occurs in mid-November and lasts about a month, by which time it is already winter in the mountains. According to the off-road vehicles found in the mountains, we can say with certainty that the old males, aged 12 and over, do not survive the winter. Their weakness makes them easy prey for predators, especially wolves and leopards.
I can confidently say that after the mating season the animals are very weak, because such an imperfect animal as a man, I mean myself, can catch up with a species of ibex during this period and come within weapon shot distance. Our climate is sharply continental, cold, but at the same time, in winter there is a different amount of snow in different areas. This is due to the peculiarities of the microclimate, which is determined by the topography and wind patterns. A typical example is the spurs of the northern Tien-Shan Boguty Mountains, which are part of the Charyn State National Nature Park (SNNP) and partly of two hunting farms. Low, with sparse vegetation and very dry, they are nevertheless very rich in ungulates, especially ibex. Or another example. Western foothills of Dzungarian Alatau - a place known to all hunters with the largest population of Central Asian ibex on Altyn Emel Mountain. The same story: very little snow in winter results in a very high survival rate of animals of all ages and, as a consequence, a good density and trophy range, which, however, has been significantly depleted by trophy hunters in recent years. Let me remind you that a 149cm trophy was taken here which held the palm of supremacy for several years. There are similar areas in the Dzungarian Alatau. Usually, the areas I know represent the southern part of the mountain system, where the air masses bringing precipitation from the north are discharged on the first ridges and bring little snow to the southern foothills. This means that such areas with a microclimate and little snow in winter should be sought along the state border with China, which runs along the watershed. The same areas have produced a world champion in Kyrgyzstan, and there are similar ecosystems along the border.
4) Sexual dysfunction or hermaphroditism. Yes, ibex, like other animals, are not without these problems. The study of captured monkeys strictly divided them into those capable of producing offspring and those incapable.
The former are characterised by a distinctive behaviour and a pungent smell, but there are also large males that behave indifferently during the mating season, while females are not interested. Another story are the hermaphroditic forms. I personally know of two cases of horned ibex with female genitalia, both with beautiful horns of 120-130 cm. I am not sure that such animals can give birth as they behave like males and do not have developed mammary glands. I am sure that the absence of the need to participate in the strenuous work of the animal race greatly preserves strength and increases the chances of living to a ripe old age. All these conditions do not include the anthropogenic factor, and here, of course, the influence of intensive hunting takes first place.
The distance from large cities, settlements, places of summer migration of livestock breeders, the difficulty of travelling - all this guarantees a low disturbance factor on the part of hunters and poachers. A professional approach to the organisation of game farms guarantees adequate protection, biotechnics and careful management of animal resources. The geographical location allows the population to be replenished from protected areas or neighbouring countries where hunting is prohibited.
Border control also has a positive effect on all these factors. Engineering structures can have both positive and negative effects. In particular, a protected border provides additional protection from unwanted poachers, but barrier structures built along the state border impede the natural migration of animals. Similar measures in Zailiyskiy Alatau have significantly reduced the number of Siberian roe deer migrating to Kyrgyzstan for the winter.
The factor of disturbance and displacement of wild ungulates by domestic animals. This is a complex issue and is virtually unregulated. For example, cattle grazing in the forest is widespread and prohibited by law. There is no agreement between the local authorities and the forestry service on 'rest zones' for game farms. As a result, the fodder base is destroyed and diseases spread. Not long ago, in 2014, an epizootic disease struck a hunting farm with the highest density of ibex in the country, killing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of wild ibex. This was preceded by livestock grazing in the area. Wild animals cannot be vaccinated, which is why they die in such large numbers. By the way, the local veterinarians did not identify the cause and hid the problem. In general, wild animals in our country have fewer rights than domestic animals, so their populations are declining. A good example of rational resource management was given by a wealthy citizen who leased 30,000 hectares for cattle farming, but actually left the land for wild animals. Coupled with protection, the result was incredible: the number of argali rose from 200 to 3000 in just ten years. However, when this benefactor was gone, the argali population lost almost half its heads in a year of powerlessness and permissiveness. Fortunately, this hunting farm has found new sponsors. By the way, it is located in Kungai Alatau, which will be discussed further on.
Kungai Alatau is a spur of the Tien Shan with the Ketmen Ridge and a relatively promising area for hunting. Firstly, there are no protected areas here, and there are quite a few well-functioning hunting farms in the area. Secondly, the large area runs along the mountains along the state border, where there are almost no dividing lines, allowing animals to migrate in peace. Thirdly, the highest and most inaccessible mountains in Kazakhstan are located here, and as a result there is low hunting activity and disturbance. Unfortunately this does not apply to all farms, but a 148cm ibex was taken in this region a few years ago and trophies over 130cm are not uncommon. But there is one drawback - there is a lot of snow!
Next is the Dzungarian Alatau. I think it would be appropriate to divide it into several zones, because the massif is not homogeneous in quality, geographical and climatic components. The westernmost spur of Dzungaria is, of course, the goat Mecca, the Altyn Emel range. 2500 ibex on a compact territory in very low (maximum 1880 m) mountains. The massif is surrounded on all sides by steppe and settlements, and with these unfavourable factors such a number of goats. The secret lies in the special microclimate. On average, the height of snow cover on the southern slopes is no more than 10 cm, which means practically nothing. The wind rose is incredibly located so that all precipitation is simply blown in different directions. Trophy hunting, due to the ease of organisation and the lack of need for super physical training, has been carried out here for almost 30 years, so there have been no mega trophies for a long time, but once the first world champion was from this area with horns measuring 149 cm. It has been a National Park for twenty years and this year hunting in it was closed, just like in any other SNNP.
The area from the valley of the Koksu River to the Khorgos River, along which the state border runs, can be further distinguished. This area is significant and includes the Upper Koksu SNNP and several hunting farms, as well as the valleys of the Borokhudzir, Maly, Sredny and Bolshoy Usyok rivers. I explored this area in detail during a week-long riding expedition, covering over 200 km on horseback. The number of ibex here is small, obviously they migrate in winter. At the same time, most of the area is untouched and uninhabited. This area is subject to severe winter cyclones from the northwest, and as a result there is very deep snow in winter, up to several metres. The area from the Koksu River to the north-east is not homogeneous. In particular, the Kora River valley and the Aisaz tract have been visited many times, and the population estimate of the Central Asian ibex in these areas is also low. The Aisaz is a traditional pasture and in summer it is a transit area, and the Kora Gorge is within walking distance of the large settlements of Tekeli, Kapal and Arasan. And given the harsh winters, the chances of finding monsters are close to zero. The area further east into the Dzungarian National Park is still a blank spot for me. There are definitely ibex in these areas, but judging by the limits allocated ....... I have not heard of any super trophies in these areas from either hunters or taxidermists. Further east to Lake Alakol, along the state border with China, is the home of the Central Asian ibex. This is the Dzungarian Alatau in all its glory. It is the area with the highest number of wild animals in Kazakhstan, higher only in Altyn Emel. Depending on the geographical location, relief and microclimate, the number and trophy quality of animals varies. The number of animals is lower near the large settlements of Sarkand, Ucharal, Glinovka, Dzerzhinskoye, Lepsinsk. The northern location of the mountain ranges has a negative effect on the quantitative characteristics and trophy series. The closer to the border, the lower the snow cover. On 70 % of the territory there are various nature reserves, several game preserves and a national park. But there are also hunting farms, which may be the last place where you can legally take an ibex of heroic proportions. In fact, this area is hunted by approximately 70% of all hunters entering the area. This area is the icing on the cake for a trophy hunter)))! The southernmost parts of the area allow hunting practically until the end of the season and, most importantly, during the rut due to the low snow cover. I have not mentioned the names of the hunting farms in order not to offend anyone. However, those that are established are well known in the industry and are usually offered by outfitters. In Kazakhstan too, there are not many established hunting outfitters, just a few companies. I have been friends with the ProHunt company for many years and we have travelled all over the country. After the introduction of the ban on hunting in national parks, I am sure that there will be "organisers" who will try to get around these barriers and in this case an unsuspecting hunter may become a victim of circumstances. Therefore, ask for coordinates of hunts and places of hunting. In Kazakhstan, hunting in the SNNP is a criminal offence! I hope that common sense will prevail and hunting in the National Parks will be reopened, but obviously not in the near future. And most importantly, don't forget that the ultimate trophy in your quest for your dream trophy is the world of wildlife you are immersed in during your hunt. This is your main trophy! Welcome to Kazakhstan, the home of the mountain ibex, which we call Tau-teke!
