Mating rituals of argalis and Siberian elk
Argalis during rutting season.
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Transcript
The Altai Mountains in Central Asia - the vast sea of snow-capped peaks straddles Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. This is one of the remotest parts of the world, in the very heart of Asia.
It’s also home to a rare and elusive mountain specialist – the argali, the biggest wild sheep in the world. For most of the year, males live in separate herds to the females and young. But in October they come together – it’s the start of the mating season. The males, with their large corkscrew horns, are the size of ponies. They are on the lookout for receptive females. The male tastes the air to pick up her scent. But she's not yet ready to mate.
For the next month, there will be no love lost between the males. They will compete fiercely for mating rights. With impressive headgear weighing over 30 kilos, the males battle it out on the steep slopes. They collide with a force that can knock a competitor unconscious. The stakes are high. The winner will mate with the most females and sire the most offspring.
Large herds of Siberian elk are also on the move through the mountains. These Asian relatives of the red deer are ready to mate, too, and the bulls are looking to join with the female herds.
The argalis have established their hierarchies and just a few males are still locked in battle. Most of the large males have secured harems of females and gathered these together in small herds. But every now and then, there is a challenger to contend with. The rival is remarkably persistent. But finally, he abandons the chase.
It’s also home to a rare and elusive mountain specialist – the argali, the biggest wild sheep in the world. For most of the year, males live in separate herds to the females and young. But in October they come together – it’s the start of the mating season. The males, with their large corkscrew horns, are the size of ponies. They are on the lookout for receptive females. The male tastes the air to pick up her scent. But she's not yet ready to mate.
For the next month, there will be no love lost between the males. They will compete fiercely for mating rights. With impressive headgear weighing over 30 kilos, the males battle it out on the steep slopes. They collide with a force that can knock a competitor unconscious. The stakes are high. The winner will mate with the most females and sire the most offspring.
Large herds of Siberian elk are also on the move through the mountains. These Asian relatives of the red deer are ready to mate, too, and the bulls are looking to join with the female herds.
The argalis have established their hierarchies and just a few males are still locked in battle. Most of the large males have secured harems of females and gathered these together in small herds. But every now and then, there is a challenger to contend with. The rival is remarkably persistent. But finally, he abandons the chase.