Location
From Akyaka, Ula/Muğla, to Göcek, Fethiye/Muğla. The area highlighted in green on the map contains the peninsula and municipality of Marmaris, the district of Muğla Province, which is located between two intersecting sets of mountains by the sea, and Lake Köyceğiz, an alluvial set lake in the Muğla Province.
Remarks
The Coastal ibex has been defined as a unique ibex, distinct from the Bezoar under which it has previously been included. The difference in body color is significant. Many pictures of the Coastal and Bezoar have been reviewed; with minimal variation, all the Coastal look the same and all the Bezoar look the same.
When evaluating the decision to recognize a different “species” or “sub-species,” the trophy committee considers five factors:
1.) Geographic boundaries: The Coastal ibex and Bezoar ibex are completely isolated with no possibility of intermingling now, nor for the last tens of thousands of years.
2.) Phenotypic differences: The parameters of horn and body size are significantly different and consistent across all the ibex legally hunted. The body coloration is significantly different and consistent. The name traditionally used for this ibex translated means “Red Rock ibex,” since the coloration closely matches the color of the rock in these mountains.
3.) Hunting opportunity: In recognizing the Coastal ibex as another Capra species, it will provide an affordable animal for hunters to pursue their passion for mountain hunting and their dreams of achieving the goal of one or more Capra World Slams.
4.) Contribution toward conservation: Since most hunters who hunt a Bezoar ibex want a “big one,” there is much more interest in Bezoar and less interest in the Coastal. Recognizing the Coastal will increase the interest in them and contribute toward their protection and conservation. This year, there were seven permits issued in the area that is protected. If the interest in this ibex increases, the protected area will increase to meet this demand, and the populations will benefit.
5.) Genetic data: There has been no detailed comparison of the Coastal ibex and the Bezoar ibex to this point, as there has been between the ibex of mainland Turkey and the Kri-Kri on the Greek Islands, which does prove a difference. Given the geographic separation and the phenotypic differences, it is impossible that the DNA data would be the same. With 100% certainty, there has to be a difference in genetics. To collect DNA data would prove an academic point, but as hunters we do not understand the data … only the conclusion. Thus, to move forward with requiring DNA data would take a significant amount of money and years to only prove an academic point.
In recent years, as we recognized new additions to our Capra and Ovis species list, we have evaluated all five points and have moved forward on the strength of the summation of all points, not necessarily requiring all five. For some of the new species, DNA data has been crucially important, while for others it is nonexistent.
Based on the strength of the first four criteria and the certainty of a genetic difference, it is reasonable to recognize the Coastal ibex of Turkey as a different species/subspecies.
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