Tengrinews.kz - A Kazakh traveler captured footage of two argali (wild sheep) fighting in the Karatau Nature Reserve in the Turkestan region.
Tengrinews.kz - A Kazakh traveler captured footage of two argali (wild sheep) fighting in the Karatau Nature Reserve in the Turkestan region.
Batyrjan Seidomar, known online as Steppe Daddy, filmed the footage in early October. After spotting it in his Instagram stories, Tengrinews.kz reached out for these rare, stunning visuals. In addition to a quick walk captured on film, Seidomar managed to record a brief scuffle between the majestic animals.
In a short interview, Batyrjan, originally from Almaty, shared his passion for travel and organizing scientific expeditions.
"I’ve been filming since 2008, and professionally since 2013. I started filming short mobile videos around 2017, though back then, without an iPhone, creating content was challenging. The argali footage was taken with a DJI Mavic 2 drone. Equipment is, of course, the biggest expense. We obtained special permission to film within the reserve," he explained.
Currently, Batyrjan and his family are traveling and gathering footage for a documentary. They’ve been on the road for over 80 days and have already collected substantial material.
The Karatau Nature Reserve, located in the Turkestan region, is a protected area known for preserving the unique ecosystems of the Karatau mountain range, a part of the Tian Shan mountains. Established as a reserve in 2004, Karatau covers approximately 34,000 hectares and is celebrated for its biodiversity and rare endemic species of flora and fauna.
The reserve is home to over 700 plant species, around 60 of which are endemic to this region. It also shelters rare and endangered wildlife, including the Karatau argali, bears, mountain goats, and various birds of prey such as rare eagles and hawks.
Karatau’s landscape is marked by rugged mountains, steep cliffs, and deep gorges, along with a semi-desert climate, creating a distinctive environment for its endemic species. This reserve is of significant interest to ecologists and biologists, offering a vital area for studying and conserving the unique natural communities of the Turkestan region’s mountainous ecosystem.
Earlier, a charming video of a maral enjoying a bath was captured in the Katon-Karagai National Park.
Hedgehogs are on the brink of extinction worldwide