Tragic Fate of Red Listed Bezoar Goat Caught in Trap

Reports of illegal activities against nature continue to emerge online. This time, a user named Samvel Hakobyan reported on September 13 about a bezoar goat caught in a trap. “On the way to Noravank, its foot was completely cut off,” he wrote and published photographs.

The bezoar goat is a species listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Armenia and is classified as "Vulnerable A2cd" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (version 3.1). According to EcoNews.am, it is assessed as “Vulnerable" (VU B2ab(iii); C2a(i)) according to the criteria of the IUCN Red List. Currently, the estimated population of bezoar goats in Armenia is between 1,000 and 1,500 individuals. The population is highly fragmented into small, isolated groups. Main threats include poaching, land appropriation, the development of mining activities, habitat degradation, and livestock grazing.

Bezoar goats are protected in Khosrov Forest and Shikahogh Reserves, Aras Valley and Sevan National Parks, Zangezur Sanctuary, and several other protected areas in Southern Armenia. The WWF Armenia branch supports the establishment and development of new protected areas within the range of the bezoar goat. There is an urgent need to strengthen the fight against poaching and to enforce environmental regulations more strictly.

On September 14, the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body announced: “Employees of the Vayots Dzor regional division immediately went to the scene to confiscate the trap, but the bezoar goat was not found, as Hakobyan had released the injured animal back into the wild, and therefore no veterinary assistance could be provided. Inspection officials, along with employees from the WWF Armenia branch, conducted operational searches throughout the night to detect poachers and find other traps. However, despite prior arrangements, S. Hakobyan published information and photographs of the captured bezoar goat on the internet, which has so far prevented the identification of the poachers. The prepared materials will be forwarded to law enforcement agencies for appropriate action.

The Environmental and Mining Inspection Body once again urges and reminds the public that in case of recording environmental violations, it is necessary to contact the regional subdivisions of the Inspection Body immediately (phone numbers link below), do not take any initiative on your own, follow the instructions of the employees, and provide an opportunity to offer professional assistance to injured animals.