Indians For Guns

Went to the zoo,here in Tbilisi, the other day and took a couple of photographs. A very interesting animal,if somewhat ungainly looking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Caucasian_tur






If it's a fair chase , they would make an exceptionally hard animal to go after. One has to be physically in a very good shape to climb those mountains in the cold.Before that, I would rather see their numbers well protected and thriving.

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Vikram

by God, am coming over with chilly and bamboo shoots, book me one will yar

Vikram,

Thanks for posting.

The chap in second picture looks like a real belligerent fellow.

Nice pics..

these are sought after trophies and quite expensive hunts.

First time I have seen animals in captivity that looked content & happy! (I maybe wrong though)

Looks Satanic...

ooho so you've seen those Boris Vallejo paintings eh??

Looks like an uglier cousin of the nilgiri tahr

Pretzels on hooves

As Shooter wrote, they are offered as trophy animals at some parts in the Caucasus.Azerbaijan allows limited numbers to be hunted.I read that Dagestan allows it too.But, that is not a well governed region. I heard that limited permits are offered for locals in Georgia.Will have to find out.

Sheep with peculiar horns.


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Vikram

Vikram wrote: I heard that limited permits are offered for locals in Georgia.Will have to find out.
Sheep with peculiar horns.
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Vikram

What a hard earned trophy it will be Viks.
I have heard a story from an old time Shikari of the (Himalayan) Bharal which is probably a lesser cousin of the Caucasian Tur, but as challenging an animal to hunt. This gentleman shot one which appeared to have a decent set of horns. When they finally got close to the dead animal , they saw the horns on either side actually growing into lower jaw......very much similar to an ingrowing nail which bites into the soft tissues around it . The animal must have been in pain compounded by difficulty in eating.

Prashant,

No doubt they would make an unforgettable stalk, either with a camera or a rifle.Check especially the last pic.The fellow with his tongue sticking out has almost the similar problem.All three animals have patches on their necks and near withers where the skin is exposed due to the friction with those massive horns. I wonder what function these horns perform in their life apart from fighting.


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Vikram

Vikram wrote:Prashant,
I wonder what function these horns perform in their life apart from fighting.
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Vikram

Quite a burden on their heads. A price they have to pay to win and earn the harem.
They do make fantastic trophies (after life). lOL.

Nice one Vikram and check their fur or coat one can see where they have been scratching

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