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Transcaspian Urial


Transcaspian Urial
Photo Information
Copyright: Seyed Babak Musavi (babak) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 53 W: 0 N: 234] (1202)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-01-25
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 300D
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 1, A - Z of Mammals [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-09 6:20
Viewed: 11923
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of very very hard subject for photography in wildlife of Iran is Transcaspian urial wild sheeps . after one months try in Tandure national park in NE of Iran . I have succed that taken this shot . I think this shot is first shot in wild of this species in Internet . I wish thst enjoy of it . but about this species.

Transcaspian Urial

Scientific Name Ovis vignei arkal
Classification Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Artiodactyla, Family Bovidae, Subfamily Caprinae
Status:
Little is known about actual population numbers of wild Transcaspian urials. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Transcaspian urial as Vulnerable to Extinction but about population of this species in iran . I can say just 1500-2000 TUS living in Tandureh national park in Ne of Iran also 1500-2300 living in Heyadary protected area near to neyshabour town also 800-1500 living in Salouk and sarigul national park in Khorasan shomali province in iran .also , there are a population of this species also in Golestan national park in N of iran .
Range :
Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Habitat mountainous regions
Diet : Grasses and other plants
Size Height: 34 - 39 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 79-180 pounds. Females are smaller than males


Reproduction: Gestation Period: 150-180 days. Young per Birth: Single or ol twin lambs being born in mid-April to early May inTandureh . Rut: Rams show no sign of sexual interest or rut until their third autumn when they are two and a half years of age. Sexual Maturity: At 4-5 years. Life Span: 10-11 years.


Special Features


Most species of wild sheep are highly gregarious and therefore live in groups. Females and their offspring usually remain in groups separate from the male groups, except during mating season.
Like most wild sheep, urials have scent glands that are important in communication. These scents are undetectable to the human sense of smell. Feeding activity is confined to the early morning and evening in the summer months, often commencing well before dawn. During the day they rest, usually under an overhanging bush or rock where they are well concealed. Their sight, hearing ans sense of smell are all acutely developed. They are excessively wary, depending upon early detection of approaching danger and flight for their survival.
fartash, simon182, SchwebagMike, marhowie, meyerd, ramthakur, rildin, jmp, fiyo, RAP, bartove, nadine432, mahdiraeiai, Jonas_Schmitt_, Frieda, samandi has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2007-02-09 6:31]

Well done - a lovely shot - I like the use id the slope which adds interest and the distribution of the big-horned males at either end of the shot. Nice light also.

James

Hello Babak,
Very nice shot of Transcaspian Urial ,
Intersting subject,Perfect composition,
Excellent work.

Regards
Fartash

fantastic pic of this rare animal. Thank you so much for sharing this, greetings, Ori

You got their attention, Seyed. I think alertness is a better word as they seem ready to ruuuuun...
TFS
Annick

Hi Seyed,
Interesting shot, you've got each one of their attention and for such a rare subject you've photographed it well. Looks like they might have scarpered after this!
Nice bright, clear image with good overall sharpness, Exposure seems ok and BG is nicely diffused. Well done and thanks for your efforts in stalking them.
Simon

Dear Seyed,
You have taken a marvelleous shot here! The image is very nice and sharp, well composed and you had the right light. Thanks for trying so hard during a mont to prsent us this great species. Seems you were lucky to get a nice shot before they ran away ;-)
Well done and TFS, Mike

WOW! What a great winter scene you have so well captured Seyed. And you even got all of them to say "cheese" ;)
Great detail, color, and you've managed the light very well also.
Excellent capture.

Wow, Seyed,
this is indeed a rare species and a first in my opinion on TN and elsewhere. But that you did such an excellent job, what with the light, the colors, the big group, the portraits does honor to you, Seyed. I visited Golestan melli parke in 2002 but I did not find any. Thanks for your effort and generosity.
I checked with the book: P. Humphreys & E. Kahrom, 1995. The Lion and the Gazelle. The Mammals and Birds of Iran. Comma International U.K.
Cheers, Dietrich

çok beğendim. tebrik ederim.

Your note gives a clear idea about the status of this very special animal found in certain restricted regions only, Seyed. By capturing the image of these wonderful looking Urials, you have really enriched us a great deal.
The picture is pleasant to look at and I like it light colour tones. All the animals are aware of your presence and are looking at the camera.
Thanks.
Ram

Hi Seyed!
Great shot, I like the composition and the depth of field. Nice, informative note, too. Thanks for sharing!

-Ari

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2007-02-09 14:56]

Hi Seyed,
Beautiful animals and excellent capture. Composition is great.
TFS, José M.

Well Lucky You! How special this shot is! It is a fantastic capture. Looks like you got the whole family group with males and females and babies...and all looking at you. I think your image lost a bit of saturation on upload to TN. It looks a little light on my monitor, but when I drag it to my desktop I can see how good the exposure and sharpness really are.

Nice work,
Thanks for sharing, Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2007-02-10 3:13]

What a great composition, Seyed. : )
So many of them, and all of them looking at you all at once.
The light is gorgeous, and those horns are very impressive.
TFS. : )

Salaam dear Babak!

Congratulation to this shot! Very nice & suigeneris photo from this hard species.
Tanks for all of your shots from Iran.
Ghorbanat.
Amir

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2007-02-10 3:40]

Hello Seyed,
Excellent shot!
Great composition with nice POV,
very good details and nice colours.
Well done

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-02-10 8:30]

Hello Babak... an excellent capture of this very uncommon animals.

I like it a lot: composition, POV, sharpness, DOF, focus, colors, background, lighting, framing.

I like it: notes.

I don't like it: the lack of the values of the image.

Very appropriate point of view point and framing to show us this interesting flock.
A cordial greeting from Buenos Aires... Ricardo

  • Great 
  • badar Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 0 N: 160] (785)
  • [2007-02-10 12:09]

HI Seyed,
Impressive group, the horns on the rams are magnificient. Love the light & composition.
TFS
Badruddin Ali

Exellent photo, Perfect colors, BG, DOF, Perfect sharpness, TFS
Eyal

superbe paysage,
beau cadrage, simplement magnifique
Nad

And I thought our bighorn sheep had 'Big horns', it seems like Iran's Urials should be called 'Bighorns'. Excellent shot and well worth the wait. :)

We have serious weeknesses in introducing Iran enviromental potentials. your works is very promising & hopeful.

  • Great 
  • captain (538)
  • [2007-08-15 14:52]

Excellent shot, congratulations. Worth the wait...

Hi!
Great picture with very nice colors and an amazing point of view.
I like the scene very much,nothing to improve here,not even a frame is necessary.
Tfs,Jonas

Hi Seyed

A wonderful surprise to find in your portfolio this rare species - ergo I started a new theme to find an appropriate home in TrekNature for it!

TFS

Verite

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