ველური ბუნებისეროვნული სააგენტო ველური ბუნებისეროვნული სააგენტო

The Caucasian red deer

შეტანილია წითელ ნუსხაში

The Caucasian red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a hoofed mammal, with an average body length of 240 cm. Adult males weigh approximately 300 kilograms.

In the not-so-distant past, the range of this species covered significant areas of Georgia, but excessive hunting has greatly reduced its population. Currently, the red deer can be found in only three locations in Georgia: Lagodekhi and Borjomi-Kharagauli protected areas, and in Gardabani, where there is a smaller population. It is worth noting that these populations are isolated from one another, which further endangers this already vulnerable species. The isolation of their habitats prevents genetic exchange between populations, making them more susceptible to inbreeding, congenital defects, and diseases. As a result, the red deer in Georgia is classified as critically endangered (CR).

An interesting fact is that many people do not realize that only male deer grow antlers, which they use in ritualized fights to win over females during the mating season. This period, known as the "rut," lasts from mid-September to early October. During the rut, male deer position themselves on relatively open meadows at the edge of forests, using loud vocalizations to attract females. If two strong males encounter each other in the same area, a ritualized fight known as a "clash" begins. Most of these fights do not result in serious injuries or death, but the dominant male, who manages to drive his rival away, gains the right to mate with the females. After the mating season, in early spring, male deer shed their antlers, which begin to regrow, reaching full size by the end of summer or early autumn. Female deer, except for reindeer (caribou), do not grow antlers.

The goitered gazelle

შეტანილია წითელ ნუსხაში

The goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) is a small species of even-toed ungulate, characterized by its white belly and straw-colored back. Their weight ranges from 18 to 33 kilograms, and they can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h. Males can be easily distinguished from females by the size of their horns, as females either have none or very small horns, measuring just a few centimeters.

The distribution range of the goitered gazelle includes the deserts and semi-deserts of Asia Minor, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, and other parts of Central Asia. Despite this wide range, the species is threatened with extinction in many areas. Historically, in Georgia, the goitered gazelle inhabited the steppes and semi-deserts located southeast of Tbilisi, where their habitat consisted of open plains, deserts, and sagebrush-covered semi-deserts.

Until the 1980s, the goitered gazelle could be found in large herds in the eastern Shiraki Valley, around Tbilisi, in Gardabani, and on the Samgori plains. However, the expansion of agricultural development, poaching, and urbanization led to the complete extinction of the species in Georgia.

Since 2013, under the initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Caucasus office, in collaboration with Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the Agency of Protected Areas, as well as the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, and with the support of the German government, a reintroduction program was implemented in the Samukhi Valley within the Vashlovani Protected Areas. Today, the population of goitered gazelles in the Samukhi Valley exceeds 200 individuals, offering hope that this once-extinct species will be restored to its historical range.

The chamois

შეტანილია წითელ ნუსხაში

The chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), is a hoofed mammal from the family of even-toed ungulates. Its body height ranges from 65 to 70 cm, and it weighs between 40 and 50 kg. Both males and females have straight horns that curve slightly at the tips, measuring 20 to 30 cm in length. Males are generally larger and darker in color. Behind their horns, they have glands that release a specific scent during the mating season, which lasts from October to December.

The chamois is found in southern Europe, the eastern part of Asia Minor, and the Caucasus Mountains. In Georgia, it inhabits the Caucasus, the Trialeti, Guria-Adjara, and Likhi mountain ranges. One of the known subspecies in Georgia is the Caucasian chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra caucasica). Its diet consists mainly of grasses, though it sometimes feeds on shrub shoots and bark. The gestation period lasts up to six months, with females usually giving birth to one kid, rarely two, in May.

East Caucasian tur

შეტანილია წითელ ნუსხაში

The East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis) is an endemic species of the Caucasus, found throughout the region. It belongs to the order of small ungulates. The East Caucasian tur is notable for its size; adult males reach a height of approximately 105 cm, a length of up to 190 cm, and a weight of around 140 kg. Females are smaller, with a body height of 85 cm, a length of 138 cm, and a weight of 56 kg. Males reach sexual maturity at five years old, while females mature at two years old. The gestation period lasts 150-160 days, and females give birth in the spring, usually to a single offspring, though twins are rare.

In Georgia, this species is found in the regions of Svaneti, Racha, Pshavi-Khevsureti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Kakheti. In the second half of the 20th century, the population began to decline sharply due to poaching. However, over the last ten years, the situation has significantly improved, as the population has been steadily increasing. This positive trend is largely attributed to conservation efforts, the expansion of protected areas, and the enhanced protection of habitats.

West Caucasian tur

არ არის შეტანილი წითელ ნუსხაში

West Caucasian Ibex (Capra caucasica)

International Status: EN (Endangered)
National Status: CR (Critically Endangered)

 

The West Caucasian ibex is distributed in the western part of the Greater Caucasus, primarily in Georgia and Russia. Endemic to the Greater Caucasus, its habitat ranges from the Chugush Mountains to the headwaters of the Baksan River. Classified as a small ungulate, it inhabits subalpine and alpine meadows at elevations of approximately 800 to 4000 meters above sea level. During winter, they often migrate to forested slopes.

The breeding season commences in mid-November and extends until late January. During this period, mixed groups of females and males form. Males reach sexual maturity at five, while females mature at two years. Gestation lasts 150-160 days, and females typically give birth to a single offspring, occasionally twins.

Since the last century, the species population has declined, primarily due to poaching and other human-induced factors. In Georgia, small populations persist in the Svaneti region. Given the presence of individuals in several European zoos, including the Tbilisi Zoo, there is potential for reintroduction programs to restore wild populations.

Wild goat

შეტანილია წითელ ნუსხაში

Capra aegagrus

the wild goat has a body length of up to 150 centimeters and can weigh up to 80 kilograms. The horns of males and females differ significantly in both shape and size. Males have backward-curving, flat horns that can reach about 130 centimeters, though some individuals have horns that exceed this size by several tens of centimeters. Females, in contrast, have much smaller horns, typically 20-30 centimeters long. The breeding season begins in autumn, and females give birth to one litter in the spring each year.

Nyamori’s main habitat consists of remote, rocky areas covered by subalpine Mechkheri forests, ranging from 1,500 to 4,200 meters above sea level. Their diet consists primarily of herbs and bushes.

This species is found in parts of the Greek archipelago, Asia Minor, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Dagestan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and southern Turkmenistan. In Georgia, Nyamori is located in the regions of Tusheti and Khevsureti. In the 20th century, their range was more widespread, but human activity has greatly diminished their migratory routes, isolating populations and halting genetic exchange. As a result, population health weakened. The food supply has decreased, poaching has increased, and competition with domestic animals has further threatened the species, pushing it toward extinction in Georgia.

However, the situation is improving slightly today, thanks to expanded protected areas and stronger conservation efforts, leading to a slow increase in numbers.