The Eastern Caucasian Tur is a mountain ungulate endemic to the Greater Cuacsaus which is a key species for nature conservation, and as such it is vitally important to develop an understanding of its range and population in the country. Bejan Lortkipanidze has been working to assess the population of Tur for the past 6 years, evaluating Tusheti and Kazbegi National Parks in past years and currently focusing on the Tur population in Lagodeki nature reserve. These three areas make up much of the Eastern Tur range on the Georgian side of the Caucasus, and therefore give a well-rounded view of the Tur population. Once evaluation of the Lagodeki population is finished, there will be a comprehensive understanding of the status of Tur in Eastern Georgia.

Much of Bejan’s and his excellent field team’s work is in the field, utilizing spotting telescopes and double–observer methods to gain the necessary data. This data is then overlaid onto physical or digital maps. The information will be used to adjust, as appropriate, the conservation status of the Eastern Tur on the IUCN’s Red List; currently the Eastern Caucasian Tur is listed as “Vulnerable.” The data collected by the NACRES team will allow for this listing to be updated and the management plan for the species to be adjusted accordingly. The collected data will also help to identify potential threats to the Tur population and allow a comprehensive management plan to be developed. The Tur are observed by the project team every 3 years, alternately in springtime and in November. Spring observation allows for easy identification of newly-born kids, while in November males are much more active and visible due to the mating season.

Field method

In this assessment we use the double observer method, which we successfully used in previous similar assessments elsewhere for the Eastern tur and bezoar goat.

Expected results:

Eastern Caucasian tur numbers in Lagodekhi protected areas.

Facts

Project status: Active 

Project location: Lagodekhi Protected Areas, Eastern Georgia

Project Coordinator/Team: Bejan Lortkipanidze, Ivane Skhirtladze, Joni Kevlishvili, Zviad Khuitsishvili, Shota Golubiani

Donors/Partners: Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF), the GEF/UNDP project “Enhancing financial stability of the Protected Areas system in Georgia.”