Wildlife Surveys

A diversity of wildlife can be found in the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan. Although overall species richness is not high, there are a number of highly endangered species of global conservation concern, including Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) and snow leopard (Uncia uncia). Other mammalian species known to occur in the region are ibex (Capra ibex sibirica), brown bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), lynx (Lynx lynx), Pallas’ cat (Otocolobus manul), stone marten (Martes foina), Altai weasel (Mustela altaica), stoat (Mustela erminea), long-tailed marmot (Marmota caudata), hare (Lepus tolai), pikas (Ochotona sp.), and a host of smaller mammals. There are also a large number of birds, many of them mountain specialists.

The Human Aspect/Threats
While presence/absence information does exist on some species of wildlife found in the Wakhan, most other data are meager and often entirely lacking, even for conspicuous and economically important species such as Marco Polo sheep. It is critical to collect baseline information on diversity, abundance, distribution, and movements of wildlife to serve as a basis for proposing measures to protect and manage the wildlife (and by extension the landscape) of the Pamir region.
 
In assessing number and distribution of Marco Polo sheep in the Afghan Pamirs, an understanding of several points is basic: 1) Marco Polo sheep are greatly affected by the proximity of herders, e.g., when households move from the summer range on the south side of the Little Pamir to the north side for the winter, many Marco Polo sheep shift their range, some to the south side and others apparently into Tajikistan; similarly, south-facing slopes exposed to sun and almost snow-free in winter are favored by Marco Polo sheep but are taken over by livestock at critical times; 2) Marco Polo sheep are so shy from being hunted that when disturbed they move into an adjacent valley or into Tajikistan; 3) Female herds tend to be relatively sedentary, whereas males may travel extensively, especially during the late November-December rut, entering and leaving from Tajikistan and China; 4) Marco Polo sheep may move between Tajikistan and the Little Pamir depending on the season.

Understanding issues such as these are critical to developing and achieving management objectives for this and other wildlife species, which are globally important from a conservation perspective and locally important from an economic perspective.

WCS Activities
This component will focus on two initiatives: the first is a series of surveys of large mammals for the Big Pamir Wildlife Reserve area, the eastern end of the Little Pamir, and the eastern tip of the Waghjir Valley. While the focus of the surveys will be on Marco Polo sheep and other large mammals, information will be collected on all species of wildlife seen during these surveys. The surveys will include members of government agencies responsible for wildlife and/or park management, as well as university personnel and local community members who will be trained in international best practice survey methodologies so that these surveys can be replicated in future years to determine trends in wildlife populations.

The second initiative will focus on satellite collaring adult and young Marco Polo sheep to determine distribution, trends, habitat use, feeding ecology, migratory movements, survivorship, and causes of mortality. Observational data will be recorded, fecal samples collected and analyzed to study diet, tissue samples taken for genetic analysis, and blood samples taken to assess disease ecology and health status of wild sheep. Graduate students from Afghanistan will be identified, trained, and mentored to take lead roles for advanced degrees on as many of these studies as possible.

Next Steps

• Perform wildlife surveys throughout the Wakhan region.
• Perform research on Marco Polo sheep, including behavior and movements.
• Combine surveys with assessments of rangelands, pastoralist land use and movement, Marco Polo sheep migratory patterns, and areas identified as critical to wildlife to develop a landscape management plan for the Wakhan region, including determining protected areas borders and arranging formal protected areas designations.