ველური ბუნებისეროვნული სააგენტო ველური ბუნებისეროვნული სააგენტო

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.