Hunters Urged to Show Responsible Behavior, Says Romanos Petrosyan Alongside Posted Photo

The Minister of Environment, Romanos Petrosyan, has written on his Facebook page: "In the photo, you can see the bezoar ibex kids in the Khosrov Forest. This species has been recorded in the former Soviet Union's Red Book. Since 1996, it has been listed in the Red Data Book of Armenia as 'vulnerable.' Currently, the population of bezoar ibex in Armenia is estimated to be between 1,000 to 1,500 individuals.

The habitat of the bezoar ibex includes the Sevan mountain range (surrounding the village of Shorzha), the western slopes of the Geghama mountain range (Khosrov Forest Reserve), as well as the mountain ranges of Garni, Urts, Vardenis, Vayots Dzor, Zangezur, Bargushat, Megrukh, and the Noravank Gorge. Isolated groups remain on Mount Khustup, in the gorge of the village of Vorotan, and in the upper part of the Arpa valley. The species has completely disappeared from the Pambak mountain range and Mount Aragats.

Dear compatriots, many species of Armenia's wildlife are endangered and listed in both international and national Red Books. I urge the hunting public organizations of the Republic of Armenia and simply our fellow citizens who are fond of hunting to demonstrate responsible behavior and contribute to the conservation and restoration of the region's biodiversity. Caring for the environment should become an inseparable part of our daily lives and activities. We are obliged to pass on an unspoiled natural world to future generations."