The nature of the mountainous Caucasus is magnificent and diverse. This is a real paradise for researchers of fauna and flora. In the mountains there are still animals that can be called rare. One of these animals are Caucasian mountain goats.
A bit of history
People began to hunt mountain aurochs in ancient times. It is believed that the first meeting of an animal and a man took place in the north of Iran. Over time, people learned not only to hunt them and eat fat and meat for food, but also to process the skins. They made containers for liquids. But the most coveted trophy was and remains the horns.
To this day, it is believed that the milk of these animals is very valuable and very nutritious. In many remote settlements of the Caucasus, there are still tales that mountain goats are representatives of evil spirits. In fact, they are very intelligent and gentle animals, perfectly trainable.
It was in honor of the Iberian goat (Capricorn) that the constellation Capricorn was named. This species lives in the vastness of the Iberian Peninsula and is famous for the amazing bends of itshorns.
Anatomy
The height at the withers in the male is from 90 to 110 centimeters, in females up to one meter. The length of males can reach 1.65 meters, females are somewhat smaller and more graceful - up to 1.4 meters. The average weight of males is 100 kg, females - about 65 kg.
Caucasian mountain goats have a reddish coat. It is slightly darker on the back than on the belly. In the cold of winter, the coat darkens almost to brown, and by the summer it brightens.
The animals have narrow, but very hard hooves, which allow them to stay on almost sheer cliffs without any problems. In addition, when there is danger, they notify their relatives about it with their hooves.
All individuals have special glands around the eyes and in the groin. These glands secrete a strong and not very pleasant smell.
Molt in animals begins in March and ends completely at the end of July. By winter, wool begins to grow back in September.
Features
The main distinguishing feature of male Caucasian mountain goats is the presence of a short and wide beard, the length of which is not more than seven centimeters.
Male and female have horns that are hollow inside. In females, the horns do not grow more than 20 centimeters. And male individuals can boast of rather large horns that can grow up to one meter in length. The growth of the horns lasts almost a lifetime.
Distribution and species of mountain goats
The Caucasian tur is actually an endemic species. the onlythe territory where these animals live is the Caucasus Mountains. On the western slope of the ridge live Severtsov's tours and the West Caucasian species, which is on the verge of extinction. A distinctive feature of its representatives is very massive and curved horns, directed in different directions and having transverse hollows. Severtsov's goats are distinguished by their small body and horns. However, their fur is much thicker and very rough.
The eastern slope is the habitat of the Dagestan species or the East Caucasian. You can meet them in Azerbaijan, the Republic of Dagestan and Georgia. This species is much smaller than relatives from the western part of the mountains, males reach no more than 90 kg in weight. The color of animals is closer to a nut shade.
Features of behavior
Description of the Caucasian mountain goat can be compiled from the opinions of rare eyewitnesses. This shy animal lives where no one can disturb him. In the district where tours live, other animals usually do not live, especially artiodactyls. Goats have a very well-developed sense of smell, strangers, and especially people, they smell several hundred meters away.
They are strong and strong, they survive the winter cold very well. Most individuals live in the upper parts of the mountains, where the forest area turns into mountain meadows. In summer they can climb very high, where there are glaciers, up to four kilometers.
In summer, herds decrease in number, their number does not exceed 20 individuals. In winter, animals unite and herds with a hundred heads meet.
These are collective individuals. Some of the males areon guard and immediately notifies the rest of the herd of the approaching danger with a peculiar whistling sound. Animals hide on the rocks, where they are almost impossible to get.
These are diurnal animals. In summer, when the weather is very hot, they wait out the heat, hiding in the shade of plants.
Goats have an average lifespan of five to ten years. In captivity, they can live up to 15 years.
Diet
Caucasian mountain goats eat almost all kinds of herbs. They eat lichens and mosses, trees and shrubs. Tours can use about 195 species of plants: cereals, fir fruits, wrestler, maple shoots, pines, mountain ash. If there is a period of famine, then they can even eat dried poisonous grass, which they extract from under the snow. Sometimes, food has to be obtained from snowdrifts 30-35 centimeters high.
Animals do not disdain young tree bark, which causes irreparable damage to vegetation in their habitats. Like moose, they need s alt, so they can migrate several kilometers in search of s alt marshes.
Reproduction
Tours are polygamous animals. Females and males join together only for the mating period. For the right to be the first among males there is a struggle, although not cruel. But the winner gets the right to the majority of females. During the mating season, young individuals usually stay away. In ordinary life, males also fight, but rather this behavior has a ritual character, since individuals after a paircollisions diverge.
The mating season is the beginning of winter. Females carry babies for about five to six months. One female individual has no more than two cubs. The average weight of newborns is five to six kilograms. Quite quickly, babies get on their feet and can follow their mother. This happens for about one month. In the first 10 days after the birth itself, the female and the baby hide.
Cubs reach full sexual maturity by the third year of life. However, males become capable of mating much later.
Red Book
The Caucasian mountain goat is currently under protection. This is especially true of the Dagestan species. The East Caucasian species is also listed in the Red Book, but in the "close to threatened" category. It is believed that no more than 25 thousand individuals of aurochs have survived. This was due to three factors:
- poaching;
- predators (wolves, lynx);
- natural disasters.
Despite the fact that the animals are protected, some people still hunt them. They not only have beautiful horns from which they make souvenirs, but also tasty meat, a good skin. An interesting fact is that hunting for aurochs is still allowed in Azerbaijan today. That is, anyone with a hunting license can shoot goats from July to August. On the other hand, in the same Azerbaijan there are several farms where tours are bred.
It's no secret that the horns of the Caucasian mountain goat (photo presentedbelow) are not just beautiful, but are one of the most revered souvenirs that are brought from the Caucasus. They are used to make vessels for wine, which are a symbol of respect for the ancient values of the peoples of the Caucasus. And local legends say that a person who drinks from the horn of the tour will ensure prosperity and abundance for life.
Another factor that leads to a decrease in livestock is the crossing of two species. It is clear that animals do not care that they are representatives of different species, but in the end, hybrid individuals are born. And the worst thing is that hybrids do not give offspring.
