Rare Ustyurt argali caught on camera in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – A rare Ustyurt argali (mountain sheep) was captured by a camera trap in the Ustyurt Nature Reserve in the Mangystau Region.
The reserve shared the striking photos on its official Instagram page, noting that the Ustyurt argali is a rare species found only in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region, inhabiting the southwestern peaks of the Ustyurt Plateau.













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Публикация от Устюрт (@ustirt_kz)



“The Ustyurt argali is listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book and is under state protection,” the reserve said.

According to specialists, the animal is well adapted to the harsh conditions of the plateau, where winters are cold and summers are hot and dry.

“The argali’s senses — sight, hearing, and smell — are highly developed. It is an extremely cautious animal. Its main predator is the wolf, while lambs are sometimes attacked by foxes and large birds of prey. Females reach maturity at 2.5–3 years old, and males at 4.5–5.5 years,” the reserve added.

Recent monitoring shows that over 500 Ustyurt argali currently inhabit the protected area.
Photo: instagram.com/ustirt_kz