SPECIES STORIES - Wildlife Conservation in China: Preserving the Habitat of China's Wild West - page 135

Figure 7.3 Approximate geographic distribution of argali and livestock in Jianshe
Township, Aksai County, Gansu, during 1997-2003. During spring, livestock
were concentrated in the northwestern portion, and all argali (open circles) were
found south of the Kharteng River, which formed the southern boundary of spring
pastures for livestock. In summer, livestock moved to mountains south of the river,
and argali (solid diamonds) were widely distributed, but often found in the northern
(Danghe Nanshan) mountains, which had been vacated by livestock. In autumn,
livestock were moved westward, but we never found argali (solid x's) this far west.
In winter, livestock were moved back to the easternmost portion of the study
area, but argali (open triangles) used areas north of this, where livestock were
concentrated during spring.
arid grasslands that offered more security (see Figure 7.4). 50 In Gouli Township of the
Dulan International Hunting Area in Qinghai, where blue sheep are extraordinarily
abundant (and well protected), argali remain rare. Our argali observations in Gouli
have been in those areas furthest from domestic sheep herds, where grasslands begin
to be replaced by cushion-plant communities or alpine fell-fields. Only when domestic
herds are in distant summer pastures (or safely ensconced within herders' corrals) do
argali use their preferred Stipa grasslands.
Considering these experiences, I am tempted at times—despite the evidence that argali
require considerable growth of grasses—to search for them specifically where grassland
conditions are poor. Perversely, poor grassland conditions, arising from either natural con-
ditions or heavy livestock grazing, have become a promising omen for finding argali.
Despite the abundance of guesses, we know neither the current population of argali nor
their recent rate of decline. It seems almost certain that many fewer argali existed when
the Chinese Wildlife Protection Law was enacted in 1988 than historically, and given
my own surveys of two key areas, I fear continued declines since then. 51 There do seem
to be some redoubts where argali remain relatively numerous, chiefly within sections of
the huge ranges arcing east to west across western China—the Qilian, Kunlun, and Tian
Shan cordilleras. 52 However, my interpretation of the rather narrow ecological niche