Altai mountain sheep Conservation Strategy officially approved in Russia

The strategy was approved by Decree of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 41-r dated December 30, 2022 and defines the most important objectives for Altai mountain sheep conservation: the preservation of current stable populations of the species and providing for the conditions for successful migration between Russia and Mongolia, considering of anthropogenic pressure in the habitats of mountain sheep.

The Altai mountain sheep is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the IUCN list as a "vulnerable" species. In Russia, argali lives in the regions bordering Mongolia in the Republics of Altai and Tuva: on the Saylyugem, Chikhachev, Mongun-Taiga, Tsagan-Shibetu ridges. The nature protected areas are located here: the Saylyugemsky National Park, the Altaisky and Ubsunur Hollow nature reserves, the Ukok Plateau Quiet Zone natural park. Argali hunting has been banned in Russia country since 1934, but poaching for meat and horns continues.

Argali is a migratory species; in winter, mountain sheep migrate to Mongolia, where the snow level is lower, and return to Russia by summer. The protection of the species is impossible without the cooperation of the two countries. In 2018, Russia and Mongolia signed the Altai Argali Monitoring Program in the Transboundary Zone of Russia and Mongolia.

WWF-Russia will continue supporting the implementation of the strategy:  surbey and monitoring, environmental education and anti-poaching activities. At the end of March, with the support of the WWF, an international meeting will be held on the basis of the Saylyugemsky National Park in the Altai Republic to develop an action plan for the conservation of argali, which is part of the conservation strategy for the species.