🐾 Wildlife of the Altai Mountains, Mongolia
Where Eagle Hunters, Glaciers & Nomadic Culture Meet
🐾 Wildlife of the Altai Mountains, Mongolia
The harsh, dry climate of the Altai Mountains has shaped both people and wildlife into tough, resilient survivors. In this dramatic landscape of snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and vast steppe, animals have evolved extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Locals often say that the golden eagle’s power and the grey wolf’s swift terror carry the spirits of ancient nomadic warriors.
The Altai is home to an exceptional range of species—from the elusive snow leopard to massive Argali sheep, agile ibex, silent lynx, mighty brown bears, and the colossal Cinereous vulture. Smaller animals such as snowcock, ring‑necked pheasant, beavers, and marmots also thrive here. Every summer, migratory birds from across Asia gather at high-altitude lakes, especially Achit Nuur. While bears and marmots hibernate in winter, many large mammals descend to lower elevations, making winter tracking in fresh snow especially rewarding.
🐺 Grey Wolf – Spirit of the Steppe
The grey wolf has long shared a complex, love‑hate relationship with nomadic herders. Ancient beliefs and modern shamanism revere the wolf’s intelligence and strength, yet herders must constantly protect their livestock.
- ⚖️ Weight: up to 45 kg (99 lbs)
- 👣 Pack size: 5–10 wolves
- 🏃 Endurance: capable of covering vast territories
After the collapse of centralized wildlife control programs, wolf numbers increased, later stabilizing through regulated hunting and the fur trade. Despite conflicts, wolves remain apex predators and symbols of the Altai wilderness.
🐈 Eurasian Lynx – Silent Shadow of the Forests
The Eurasian lynx is a powerful, elusive cat adapted for stealth.
- ⚖️ Weight: 18–30 kg (40–65 lbs)
- 🌙 Activity: nocturnal
- 🍽️ Prey: roe deer, marmots, hares, squirrels
Rarely seen, lynx tracks are more common than sightings. The Altai’s proximity to Siberian forests supports strong lynx populations.
🦅 Golden Eagle – Sacred Hunter of the Altai
The golden eagle is widespread in the Altai and deeply sacred to local Kazakhs, who practice traditional eagle huntingfor Corsac fox.
- 🪽 Wingspan: up to 2.2 m (8 ft)
- ⚖️ Weight: up to 7 kg (15 lbs)
- ⚡ Dive speed: up to 300 km/h (190 mph)
Around 250 trained eagles are used in Bayan‑Ulgii, then released back into the wild after several years—ensuring sustainability. With talons exerting up to 320 kg (700 lbs) of pressure, the golden eagle is among the most powerful hunters on Earth.
🐻 Brown Bear – Gentle Giant of the Altai
The Eurasian brown bear inhabits forested valleys and mountain slopes.
- ⚖️ Weight: 265–355 kg (580–780 lbs)
- 🌿 Diet: mostly vegetation, insects, fish
Despite their fearsome reputation, bears are shy and non‑aggressive. There are no recorded attacks in Bayan‑Ulgii. Bear Valley (Baavgai Salaa) in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is a prime habitat.
🐏 Altai Argali Sheep – Giants of the Mountains
The Altai subspecies of Argali sheep are the largest wild sheep in the world.
- 📏 Horn length: up to 190 cm (6 ft 2 in)
- ⚖️ Horn weight: up to 35 kg (75 lbs)
- 🐏 Body weight: up to 182 kg (400 lbs)
Once endangered, populations have rebounded in protected areas like Kohkh Serkhiin Nuruu and Sillkemiin Nuruu National Parks, where herds of up to 300 animals can be seen. Limited, high‑value hunting permits help fund conservation.
🦅 Cinereous Vulture – Giant of the Skies
The Cinereous (Black) Vulture is the largest bird of prey in the world.
- 🪽 Wingspan: 2.5–3.1 m (8.2–10 ft)
- ⚖️ Weight: 7–14 kg (15–31 lbs)
These silent giants feed on large carcasses and play a crucial role in the ecosystem. Individuals in Mongolia are on average 10% larger than elsewhere.
🐐 Siberian Ibex – Masters of the Cliffs
The Siberian ibex thrives in high alpine terrain, navigating steep cliffs with ease.
- 📏 Horn length: up to 130 cm (4 ft 3 in)
- ⚖️ Weight: 35–130 kg (77–190 lbs)
Ibex are widespread in Bayan‑Ulgii and often spotted near Ölgii town. They are key prey for snow leopards, wolves, and golden eagles.
🎣 Fish of the Altai Rivers and Lakes
The Hovd River watershed, draining into Lake Uvs, supports rare and prized fish species:
- 🐟 Taimen – world’s largest salmon (up to 50+ kg)
- 🐠 Lenok Trout
- 🐟 Osman (endemic to the Uvs basin)
- 🐠 Arctic Grayling
- 🐟 Pike
Winter ice fishing offers remarkable catches, while summer fly fishing attracts anglers worldwide.
🦊 Corsac Fox – Prize of the Eagle Hunters
The Corsac fox is a small, alert fox prized for its thick winter fur.
- ⚖️ Weight: 1.6–3.2 kg (3.5–7 lbs)
- 🌙 Activity: nocturnal
Slow runners but keen‑sensed, Corsac foxes are best hunted by eagles capable of striking from over 1.6 km (1 mile)away.
👀 How to See Wildlife in Bayan‑Ulgii
Protected areas such as Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and Kohkh Serkhiin Nuruu Strictly Protected Area provide exceptional wildlife viewing.
- ✅ Common sightings: Ibex, golden eagles, Argali sheep
- 🔍 Occasional sightings: Wolves, foxes, bears
- ❄️ Rare encounters: Snow leopards (tracks more common than sightings)
Experienced local guides greatly increase success. You may even encounter National Geographic or BBC film crewsdocumenting this extraordinary region.
🌍 Experience the Altai in Person
This is one of the last places on Earth where ancient nomadic culture and untamed wilderness still exist side by side.
Turn off the TV. Come to the Altai. Witness it yourself.