Population Status of Transcaspian Urial (Ovis orientalis [vignei] arkal) at Aktau Buzachinsky Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan

A ground survey of Transcaspian urial (Ovis orientalis [vignei] arkal) was conducted over a 7-day period in March 2000 on a 113-km portion of the Aktau Buzachinsky Nature Reserve in southwest Kazakhstan. The purpose of the survey was to determine the population status of urial, especially males. A total of 491 urial (183 ewes, 97 rams, 15 lambs, 196 unclassified) were observed. About 70 urial were observed per day afield. The observed urial density was ~4 per km. Approximately 35% of urial habitat on the reserve was surveyed. During the survey 71 adult rams were observed of which 45% were older than 6 years. One ram was observed for every 2 females and 1 mature ram for every 2.6 females. Rams 5 years or older were considered mature. The data indicate urial are abundant on the reserve and adequate mature rams are present in the population for breeding. Indications are that historic grazing has impacted the land’s ability to produce forage which, in combination with the relatively high density of urial, may be negatively affecting ram horn growth rate.