XIEG Conducts Joint Survey in Tajikistan

Recently, a delegation from the China-Tajikistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use carried out a joint field survey on Capra falconeri in Tajikistan.

Prof. YANG Weikang, Deputy Director of the Joint Laboratory and a researcher at Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XIEG), along with Academician Saidov Abdusattor, Tajik Co-Director of the Joint Laboratory, participated in this survey.

The objective of the survey was to provide scientific and technical support for the local conservation of this species.

From May 16 to 20, the joint team investigated the conservation areas of three community conservancies: Anjirob, Yakhshipun, and Dashitijum. The researchers deployed infrared camera traps and provided on-site technical guidance, which laid the foundation for long-term population monitoring of Capra falconeri.

The survey integrated line-transect sampling and infrared camera monitoring to evaluatethe wild population status of Capra falconeriin Tajikistan.

This field survey further promoted the construction of the Joint Laboratory, provided scientific support for Tajikistan’s policymaking on Capra falconeri conservation and protectedarea management, and strengthened bilateral cooperation in the conservation of arid-zonebiodiversity.

Capra falconeri, the largest wild goat species in the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla), is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It has suffered severe habitat loss and population decline caused by uncontrolled hunting, livestock grazing, and infrastructure construction.

The surveyed subspecies,C. f. heptneri, inhabits the steep mountain ranges along the Panj River, extending from the Darvaz Mountains to the Hazratishoh Mountains in southern Tajikistan.

Joint field survey at Anjirob.

Discussion with local community conservancy staff at Dashitijum.

Setting up infrared camera traps with local rangers.

A male Capra falconeri spotted during field surveys.

Contact

Ms. HUANG

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: zlhuang@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn