Dagestan Tur

Class: Mammals

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Weight: 45-100 kg

Height: 65-98 cm

Body Length: 1.3-1.5 m

Coloration: Brown or light brown fur. Males’ fur turns gray with age. In winter, the coloration becomes dark brown. The belly is lighter. Males have a characteristic beard on the chin.

Age of sexual maturity: At the age of one and a half to two years

Gestation Period: 160-165 days

Lifespan: 15 to 22 years

Habitat: Found in the eastern regions of the Caucasus, inhabiting Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. The largest population is preserved in Dagestan.

Diet: Mainly consists of various grasses, shrub leaves, moss, and lichens.

Did You Know?

• Males settle higher than females and have been observed at altitudes up to 4000 meters.
• They are listed as endangered species.
• With excellent vision and sense of smell, turs can spot humans from a distance but do not hide while they are in sight. However, if a person disappears behind a rock or in a nearby gorge, a sharp whistle spreads among the turs, and the entire herd flees.