Progress Report 1. Status of the least understood wild sheep, the endangered northern Chinese argali (Ovis ammon jubata)

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1 December 11, 2008 Progress Report 1 Status of the least understood wild sheep, the endangered northern Chinese argali (Ovis ammon jubata) Richard B. Harris a, Ganchimeg Wingard b, and Bi Junhuai c a Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Science, University of Montana, Missoula b Argali Research Center, Ulaanbaatar c Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot PSF 2008/09 Introduction Few species have inspired as many as the majestic giant sheep of central Asia, the argali (Ovis ammon). This species invariably tops the list among species considered by the nascent wildlife management authorities in provincial and local centers of such countries as Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. They are of intense interest to governments (and some businessmen) because of their capacity to generate income through high-priced trophy hunting (and possibly non-consumptive viewing as well). In addition, they are of high interest to local pastoralists as sources of meat, and as competitors with domestic livestock (although we suspect the principal dynamic runs the other way).yet the status of few argali subspecies or populations is understood with any certainty. 1 The contract originally specified November 2008 as the termination date, but a revised schedule, with a final report due May 2009, was accepted by Jean-Christophe Vie by on February 29,

2 Among the least known (and very likely most endangered) argali are those living in Inner Mongolia, China. These are generally attributed to the subspecies O. a. jubata, (Geist 1991, Shackleton 1997, Red List CR C2a), although so little is known about these animals that whether they merit subspecific designation is itself unclear. What is clear, however, is that there have historically been argali in isolated hills in Inner Mongolia, but that they are now reduced to isolated remnants. Information on these remnants is exceedingly scarce and of unknown reliability. Although some species account continue to mention argali as occurring south and/or east of Inner Mongolia (in Shaanxi, Shanxi, or Hebei), we know of no reliable reports of argali persisting in these provinces. The type locality for O. a. jubata is said to be Kwei Hua Ch eng, Shansi (Geist 1991), however, this name is actually an obsolete reference to Hohhot (Huhehaote), capital of present day Inner Mongolia. The geographic coordinates (111º 30 E, 41º N), where specimens were obtained by Roy Chapman Andrews in 1921, place this in the Daqing Shan, just north of Hohhot. These hills, as well as those further south and east in Shanxi and Hebei, are characterized by gentler topography and more mesic vegetation than the isolated ranges of the Gobi Desert. This raises the possibility that O. a. jubata may, if still extant, represent not merely a distinct morph (Geist 1991) but a particular adaptation within O. ammon. Available information on the recent status of argali in Inner Mongolia is limited to the reports of Wang and Schaller (1996) and Bu et al (1998). The first authors observed no argali themselves, but reported that remnant populations probably existed (at the time) in the Mazong Shan, Yabrai (Yabulai) Shan, Helan Shan, Zhuozi Shan, and Lang Shan ranges. They considered the species endangered in Inner Mongolia, guessing that less than 500 existed. Bu et al. (1998) reported on a combination of direct observations and interviews made during the 1990s, suggesting the continued presence of small, isolated groups of argali in various ranges throughout northern Inner Mongolia. More recently, Gong Minghao (Department of Wildlife Management, State Forestry Administration, Beijing) conducted a survey in the Yabulai Shan area where government officials hope a future trophy-hunting program can be established. He did not observe argali directly, but interviews with local staff and photographic evidence indicated the presence of a small 2

3 argali population there (Gong Minghao, Chinese State Forestry Administration, unpublished data, 2008). These reports have shed no light on whether some or all of these animals are appropriately considered Northern Chinese (or Shansi ) argali (O. a. jubata). Maps produced by scientists with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (reproduced in Shackleton 1997: 166) suggest that argali in extreme northern Inner Mongolia (adjacent to the Mongolian border) are considered O. a. darwini, but those in central Inner Mongolia are O. a. jubata. (This map was mislabeled in Shackleton 1997, and later corrected by Ali 2007). A website of China International Forest Travel (which has facilitated some trophy hunting) states that Shanxi Argali (Ovis ammon jubata) is found in an arc across northern China from Hebei and Shanxi west through Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia to Gansu. However, Yu (2001), in a comprehensive report on argali in China, did not recognize O. a. jubata as a valid subspecies. Our objectives are to i) update the status of argali in Inner Mongolia, and ii) shed light on whether any remnant populations should truly be considered O. a. jubata (or alternatively, whether the taxon should be considered extinct). Progress during 2008 Preliminary data and planning During August 18-23, 2008, Harris and Wingard traveled to Hohhot (Huhehaote), capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, to plan field work with Dr. Bi Junhuai, and to interview scientists and agency personnel with knowledge of argali in Inner Mongolia. It was hoped that we could also travel to a few banners (qi) in which argali populations were reported previously. Unfortunately, the 2008 Beijing Olympics and visits from high-ranking national officials restricted our ability to travel to places other than Hohhot. From our combined interviews and personal knowledge however, we were able to produce a preliminary idea of where argali probably still exist, where surveys would be profitable, and where any O. a. jubata would most likely be found. Here, briefly, is what we know about each area (Fig. 1). 3

4 Mazong Shan ( 马鬃山 ): It is fairly well established that a small number of argali live in this area, at the extreme northwest corner of Inner Mongolia, where it abuts Gansu Province and Mongolia (Yu et al. 2008). Within Gansu, Subei County administers the area, and has operated occasional trophy hunts in these desert mountains for a number of years. From all accounts, this area is part of the Gobi desert, and it seems safe to assume that argali in this area are O. a. darwini. Yabrai (Yabulai Shan 雅布赖山 ): This range extends in a southwest-northeast direction approximately 250 km into the Badan Jilin desert of Alashan Banner, northeast of Shandan in the Gansu corridor. Wang and Schaller (1996) estimated the number of animals here as 20-30, and Bu et al. (1998) reported that were documented by the Chinese national wildlife census in In November 2007, Gong Minghao of SFA conducted a survey of argali here, but at the time of this writing, the report of that work was not yet available. As with Mazong Shan, the geographic location of this range suggests that argali living here are likely O. a. darwini. Helan Shan( 贺兰山 ). The Helan Shan is a unique, north-south range on the Inner Mongolia-Ningxia border, much of which is now protected as a nature reserve. Wang and Schaller (1996) listed this range has containing argali, and Shackleton (1997:167) listed it as containing O. a. jubata. However, Dr. Liu Zhensheng of East China Normal University has conducted research on blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in the Helan Shan for many years, and communicated to us that he believe argali are no longer present (personal communication, 2008). Lang Shan ( 狼山 ). Wang and Schaller (1996) wrote that argali had almost disappeared from this range. However, informal reports reaching Dr. Bi in Hohhot suggest that some may remain here. Of interest is that blue sheep and ibex (Capra sibirica) were also reported as present by Wang and Schaller (1996). If argali are also present, this may represent the only mountains in which all 3 species co-exist. Daqing Shan ( 大青山 ). Although included as containing O. a. jubata by Shackleton (1997: 167), there is consensus that this range, just north of the large city of Hohhot, has not contained argali for at least 50 years. 4

5 Siziwang ( 四子王 )Banner. Bu et al. (1998) reported that about 10 argali were believed to persist in the Wujia Shan and Hou Shan areas as of the mid-1990s. There are evidently some passage-ways built in the Mongolia-Inner Mongolia border fence in this area, which may facilitate occasional movement of argali. Given proximity to the scattered populations of Gobi argali in adjacent Mongolia, these animals, if still present, are likely to be O. a. darwini. Erenhot ( 二连浩特 ). Bu et al. (1998) reported that argali were believed use this area in 1994, and a 1997 report had this number at 80. Bi Junhuai visited this area in 2004 and observed 13 argali. As above, these animals are likely O. a. darwini. Sunitezuo, Erenersumu ( 苏尼特左, 额仁淖尔苏木 ). Bu et al. (1998) reported that in May 1997 a local pastoralist reported that about 100 argali had been seen in the Dalei and Da erhawula areas in November 1995, and that about 50 were seen in early Bu s survey team documented 23 argali in this area in May, 1997 (photographs of 5 rams are included in Bu et al. 1998). Mr. Bu reported to us in August 2008 that he believes these argali are well protected, but had no updated information on population status. As above, these animals are likely to O. a. darwini. Bu et al. (1998) also listed a few other localities near the Mongolian border where small numbers of argali had been seen in the past, but likely no longer had argali as of the mid-1990s. We have no information suggesting otherwise. According to Mr. Bu, there are no argali specimens in Hohhot or elsewhere in China that might be examined for clues as to whether they would best be classified as O. a. jubata or O. a. darwini. To the best of his knowledge, the only specimens taken from the purported range of O. a. jubata are the R.C. Andrews specimens, housed at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York, USA. It being impossible to adequately survey all areas (even via interviews) given budget and time constraints, we decided upon the following plan. Because a recent survey in the Yabrai Shan had been completed by Gong Minghao of SFA and because this area is relatively far from Hohhot, we decided not to prioritize this area for further surveys, but instead to incorporate those results (when available) into our reporting. The Siziwang, Erenhot, and Sunitezuo areas are all located quite close to the international 5

6 border with Mongolia, and are thus sensitive areas for non-chinese citizens. We therefore decided to have survey work in this area conducted entirely by Inner Mongolia Normal University in November Lastly, it appears that if O. a. jubata still exists, the most likely place to find it would be the Lang Shan (if indeed any argali persist there). The Lang Shan is the range purported to have argali that is most closely connected with the Daqing Shan, where the specimens identified by Geist (1991) as O. a. jubata were collected in We thus decided to plan a survey there for March, Examination of R. C. Andrews specimens Because one of us (Harris) had opportunity to be in New York in October 2008, it was relatively easy to make arrangements to visit AMNH. On October 9, 2008, we obtained photographs of 12 of the R. C. Andrews specimens (of which 8 were labeled as originating in from Kwei Hua Cheng, and 4 from Artsa Bogdo, which is evidently just northwest of Gobi Gurvhan Saichan National Park in Mongolia). We also obtained bone fragments from skulls of 10 specimens, of which 9 were labeled as Kwei Hua Cheng, for the purpose of future genetic work. As noted by Geist (1991), lower metapodia on the Andrews specimens appear to have a well-bordered, distinct anterior stripe (Fig. 2). It is less clear, however, that Andrews specimens taken from Artsa Bogdo, which based on location would presumably represent O. a. darwini, differ in this regard (Fig. 3). An additional distinguishing characteristic noted by Geist (1991) was the ruff, with a dark ridge of elongated hair distributed dorsally on the neck in O. a. jubata, in contrast with light ruff hair spread in patches on the neck, withers, shoulder, and back in O. a. darwini. Photographic evidence of these characteristics is not clear. However, the specimens labeled as Kwei Hua (and thus presumably jubata) generally had light hair on the ruff (e.g., Fig. 4), and at least one specimen from Artsa Bogdo (presumably darwini) appears to have darker hair along its upper neck (Fig. 5), although this specimen is labeled as having been collected in on August 23, perhaps too early in the year for full breeding pelage to emerge. November 2008 survey 6

7 The Inner Mongolia Normal University (IMNU) survey of suspected argali distribution within north-central Inner Mongolia took place during November 15-25, Led by Dr. Bi Junhuai, participants included Liu Yan, lecturer at IMNU; Liu Jie, graduate student at IMNU; Hugeji, forest police of Sunitezuo Banner who acted as driver and guide; and Wutumuji, a pastoralist from Abage, who acted as a guide. Five areas were visited (Fig. 6): Saihantawei township (~ 42º 44N, 112º 38 E), Erenersumu (~43º 24 N, 111º 25 E), Erenhot (~ 43º 44N, 112º E), Hada Shan in Sunitezuo (44º 20 N, 111º 26E), and Abaga (44º 37 N, 114º 08 E). The Erenersumu area, which was reported (above) to have many as 100 argali in the 1990s, is sufficiently close to the international border that no permanent residence is allowed; temporary livestock grazing is, however, permitted. The area also contains numerous springs that may be important to wildlife such as argali. During 2 days of survey in this area, no argali or their sign were observed directly. However, a pastoralist interviewed maintained that argali were frequently seen in the area, and another pastoralist indicated that he d observed 4 female or young argali earlier that day. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) were commonly seen in this area. The Abaga area is among those cited by Bu et al. (1998) as having documentation of argali in the past, but they suggested was that this population had since been extirpated. No argali were seen in this area, which appeared to contain very little suitable habitat for argali. Pastoralists (including one 70-year old man) and local military personnel were unanimous in reporting that they knew of no recent observations of argali in this area. The Hada Shan area of Sunitezuo Banner is also situated at the international border, and few pastoralists are permitted to live there. A well may serve to attract wildlife to the area. A 25m tall observation tower here was also used to scan for argali. Mr. Wutumuji led the team for two-and-a-half days of searching, finally encountering a group of 7 females (Fig. 7), which were photographed after being pursued on motorcycle. The next day, these animals could not be found, presumably having left the immediate area. Mr. Wutumuji had 2 domestic sheep killed by wolves that night. The observation team also observed a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and numerous rabbits. Plans for

8 1. We plan a ~ 10-day survey of the Lang Shan, which appears to harbor the best hope for finding argali that may represent O. a. jubata. This area may have promise in that, according to Wang and Schaller (1996), it also contained blue sheep and ibex in the 1990s. We know of no recent wildlife surveys in this area. 2. If funding allows, we would like to make use of the tissue samples from AMNH, collected by R.C. Andrews, which were important in describing O. a. jubata (Geist 1991), to examine whether genetic evidence exists that would support their designation as separate from animals further north in the Mongolian Gobi. Tserenbataa et al. (2004) identified nine haplotypes based on analyses of 556 bp of the mitochondrial DNA gene ND5. Thirty of Tserenbataa s 61 samples came from animals in the Gobi environment (where 6 haplotypes were identified), areas which have usually been considered to contain O. a. darwini (although based on their analyses, Tserenbataa et al. questioned whether these were sufficiently differentiated from Altai argali, O. a. ammon, to justify separate classification). If the same region of mtdna can be examined for the 10 samples collected by Andrews near Hohhot in 1919 (which are currently in storage at the University of Montana), we believe it may shed light on how different they were from recent argali in the Gobi desert. It should also be possible to build a larger phylogenetic tree, based on the existing work of Tserenbataa et al. (2004), to place these samples within those of argali from other areas. Acknowledgements We thank Eileen Westwig and Darrin Lunde at AMNH for their most gracious assistance in allowing us access to the R.C. Andrews specimens and preparing them for examination. Thanks also to Gong Minghao of the State Forestry Administration for sharing information on argali in Yabrai Shan. Literature Cited Ali, A Revised map of distribution of Ovis ammon jubata. Caprinae News (March 2007): 14 Bu, H. X. Tian, and R.B. Chen Argali of Inner Mongolia. Chinese Wildlife 19: 8-9. (in Chinese). 8

9 Geist, V On the taxonomy of giant sheep (Ovis ammon). Canadian Journal of Zoology 69: Shackleton, D.M., 1997, Wild Sheep and Goats and Their Relatives: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Caprinae. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge. Tserenbataa, T., Ramey II, R. R. Ryder, O.A., Quinn, T.W., and Reading, R. P A population genetic comparison of argali sheep (Ovis ammon) in Mongolia using the ND5 gene of mitochondrial DNA; implications for conservation. Molecular Ecology 13: Wang, X.M. and G.B. Schaller Status of large mammals in western Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of East China Normal University (Natural Science) 12: Yu, Y.Q Argali survey project: work report. Chinese State Forestry Administration. (in Chinese). Yu, Y.Q. Ji, M.Z., Liu, C.G., Li, K.C. and Guo.S.T Geographical distribution and vicissitude of argali, Ovis ammon, in China. Biodiversity Science 16: (in Chinese). 9

10 Figure 1. Map of Inner Mongolia, showing approximate locations of places mentioned in the text, as well as adjacent countries (Mongolia) and Chinese provinces. 10

11 Figure 2. Legs of specimen 45491, taken by R.C. Andrews at Kwei Hua Cheng (Hohhot area), October 22, 1919, showing stripes on metapodia. 11

12 Figure 3. Legs and rear portion of specimen 57301, taken by R.C. Andrews at Artsa Bogdo (northwest of Gobi Gurvhan Saichan, present day Mongolia), August 23,

13 Figure 4. Neck of specimen 45491, taken by R.C. Andrews at Kwei Hua Cheng (Hohhot area), October 22, 1919, showing lighter hair. 13

14 Figure 5. Neck of specimen 57301, taken by R.C. Andrews at Artsa Bogdo (northwest of Gobi Gurvhan Saichan, present day Mongolia), August 23,

15 Figure 6. Locations of field surveys in November Argali were observed (arrow) near Hada Shan, in Sunitezuo Banner. 15

16 Figure 7. Seven argali females (possibly including yearlings) photographed in mid- November 2008 near the border with Mongolia, near Hada Shan, Sunitezuo Banner, at approximately 44º 20 N, 111º 25 E by Bi Junhuai. Note border fence. Sign from argali was also found on the Inner Mongolian side of the fence. 16