MARCO POLO ARGALI Hunting

Ovis ammon polii

Distribution: The eastern part of the Vakhan Corridor in Afghanistan; the Pamir Plateau in eastern Tajikistan; extending north into southeastern Kyrgyzstan south of the Naryn River; and the adjacent Pamir (Tagdumbash) region of western China. The northern limit for the Marco Polo argali is the Naryn River.

Description: Pamir argali - shoulder height 44-46 inches (112-117 cm). Weight up to 300 pounds (135 kg). The long, slender horns are homonymous, forming 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 open spirals, and triangular in cross section with a sharp orbital-nuchal edge. The longest sheep horn ever recorded (75 inches, or 190.5 cm) (Rowland Ward, 1895); however the largest circumference for this race is only 17 inches (43 cm), with 14 to 15-1/2 inches (36-39 cm) usual. Horns and skull together will weigh only about 25 pounds (11-12 kg).


CITES: Appendix 2. Only an export permit is required. These species do not require an import permit (only in some countries that have adopted more strict rules).