Ovis polii

Pamir Sheep, also known as Pamir Sheep, was once a subspecies of argali.

The Pamir argali subspecies "Ovis ammon polii" was first scientifically described by zoologist "Edward Blyth" in 1841. These argali are also commonly referred to as "Marco Polo argali" or "Pamir argali". The Pamir argali (Ovis ammon polii) is considered an independent species in the book "Ungulate Taxonomy" co-authored by British scholar Peter Grubb and Australian scholar Colin Groves. The 2019 edition of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the China's "National Key Protected Wildlife List" released in 2021 also adopt this statement, treating it as an independent species. However, as of February 2021, the "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" and most materials will still regard it as a subspecies of argali.

In Marco Polo's travel notes, sheep on the Pamir Plateau were mentioned in great detail. He told his descendants that those wild sheep were "huge, with horns as long as three or four palms, and some even as long as six palms." When Europeans and Americans talk about "Pamir argali", they are likely to be confused. They call this kind of big-horned wild sheep on the Pamir Plateau - Marco Polo sheep.

Pamir argali are relatively cold-resistant. Usually 3-5 or dozens of them form a group. They have longer legs and thinner bodies. Compared with other wild sheep, their climbing skills are relatively poor, so when they escape, they generally avoid escaping to too steep slopes. They are mainly active at dawn and dusk, and often forage during the day in winter. They live on grass and leaves, and feed on Gramineae, Allium and weeds. Their main natural enemies are wolves and snow leopards.

Pamir argali rams mate in late autumn and early winter, usually for a month, from mid-October to mid-November. The gestation period is 155-160 days, and lambs are born in late March to early April of the following year. Usually one lamb is born per litter, but twins or even triplets can also be born. Before giving birth, the female leaves the herd and hides in a densely bushy area to give birth. The ewe and her newborn will be separated from the herd for a few days, during which time the lamb lies motionless while its mother goes out to forage for food briefly. The young have a strong ability to adapt to the environment. After birth, they can stand up and feed as soon as their hair dries. They can move around with their mothers after a few hours. They are usually weaned after 4 months, and the lactation period lasts for more than half a year. Females reach sexual maturity at 2 years old and males at 5 years old. Lifespan is about 10-15 years.

Hunting Pamir argali became popular in the 1950s when Afghan King Mohammed Zahir Shah hunted a wild ram. He subsequently declared the valley where he hunted a protected argali habitat and a hunting ground for the Afghan royal family, and it wasn't until 1968 that an American tourist was allowed to hunt within the reserve. In 2008, it was estimated that American hunters paid an average of $20,000-25,000 for a Pamir argali hunting expedition. One study suggests that the cost of each license has risen to $40,000.

In 1976, the number of Pamir argali was estimated at 300. This number dropped to a maximum of 160 between 1978 and 1981, and fell again to only 45 in 1991. George Schaller of the Wildlife Conservation Society estimated the global population in 2003 to be about 10,000, half of Ronald Petots' estimate in 1973. Their population density has been recorded as less than two animals per 1 square kilometer (0.39 square miles). The Pamir argali was included in the first list of protected species issued by the Afghanistan National Environmental Protection Agency in June 2009.

Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2020 ver3.1) - Near Threatened (NT).

Listed in Appendix I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 2019 Edition Appendix II.

Listed in China's "National Key Protected Wildlife List" (February 5, 2021) Level 2.

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Most Pamir argali live in the Pamir Mountains region bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and China.
The Pamir argali live at altitudes between 3,700-4,800 feet. The species is found mainly in the northwest of the Hunza region of Pakistan along the Chinese border, inhabiting the "Kilik Mintaka" border and the northwest area of ​​the Khunjerab National Park. It also inhabits the Wakhan Corridor on the Afghan border. They share much of their habitat with animals such as the snow mountain argali. In the summer, the Pamir argali prefers to stay close to riverine areas and vegetation, while in the winter, they prefer gentler and south-facing slopes. The ruggedness of the terrain and the average annual temperature are the two main factors that affect its distribution.

The Pamir argali is known for its long spiral horns, which have been measured up to 140 cm. The species has the longest horns of all argali, with the longest individual on record measuring 1.9 m and weighing 27 kg. The horns of the Pamir argali follow a coil pattern, with the tip pointing directly in a horizontal direction away from the head; despite this, the tip rarely breaks off. They begin to grow 15-20 days after the sheep is born, with the growth in length being most pronounced in the first year. Growth in thickness is most pronounced in the first two years.
Most argali have a rounded tail about 6-8 cm long with a tuft of hair at the end; the Pamir argali's tail is a bit longer, about 12-16 cm. Adult rams weigh an average of 126 kg, and rams stand about 113 cm at the shoulder, while ewes stand 100 cm at the shoulder. The horns grow new rings every year, which can be used to determine the age of male animals.
The Pamir argali has a dark brown coat with white underparts;