This detailed and meticulously researched atlas presents an overview on the distribution ranges of all 96 wild Caprinae phenotypes in the northern hemisphere, their physical appearance, life history, conservation status and sustainable use. The authors aim to stimulate the resourceful involvement of a wide variety of stakeholders: policymakers who create the administrative and legislative frameworks for Caprinae conservation; researchers and taxonomists who are at work to fill knowledge gaps; public, communal and private landowners on whose lands wild Caprinae dwell; management authorities who need to find holistic conservation solutions; hunters who are getting intense emotional rewards from pursuing wild sheep and goats and their relatives; and last but not least the women and men who follow the tracks of wild sheep and goats to admire and photograph them in their natural surroundings. Cooperatively, they can all increase their individual contribution to the conservation of these magnificent creatures and the wild landscapes in which they dwell.
The collector's edition is limited to 185 copies, numbered and signed, slip-cased, hand-bound in half leather with gold foiling on front and spine. These include exclusive frontispieces of the original two watercolour paintings by Bodo Meier.
Prologue by HM King Juan Carlos
Preface
Acknowledgements
Contributing Photographers
CIC Caprinae Phenotype System
Natural Survival of Males in Mountain Ungulates
Some Aspects of Caprinae Conservation
IUCN, CIC and Caprinae
Chapter 1. Argali
Chapter 2. Mouflon and Urial
Chapter 3. North American Thinhorned and Bighorned Sheep
Chapter 4. Northeast Asiatic Thinhorned Sheep
Chapter 5. Aoudad
Chapter 6. Bharal
Chapter 7. Tahr
Chapter 8. Takin
Chapter 9. Musk Ox
Chapter 10. Chiru
Chapter 11. Goral
Chapter 12. Serow
Chapter 13. Rocky Mountain Goat
Chapter 14. Chamois
Chapter 15. Ibexforms
Chapter 16. Spanish Ibex
Chapter 17. Tur
Chapter 18. Asiatic and Mediterranean Wild Goats
Chapter 19. Markhor
Annexure 1 The Caprinae Hunter as Naturalist-Conservationist
Annexure 2 Position Statements of the IUCN Caprinae Specialist Group
Annexure 3 IUCN SSC Guiding Principles on Trophy Hunting as a Tool for Creating Conservation Incentives
Annexure 4 Geographical References
Annexure 5 Literature Cited
" [...] the CIC Caprinae Atlas of the World marks a milestone in the conservation activities of the CIC. This very ambitious book presents a massive amount of information on mountain ungulates, including detailed descriptions of taxonomic varieties [...] Its maps and photographs will be a cornerstone of much future work on the ecology, taxonomy and conservation of these species. [...] This monumental work took much effort by some very able and determined people. [...]"
– Marco Festa-Bianchet, PhD, University of Sherbrooke, Canada and Chairman IUCN Caprinae Specialist Group
" [...] literally thousands of publications were reviewed and, the [authors] made excellent use of the knowledge of a host of globally recognized Caprinae experts. [They} describe the taxonomy, distribution, anatomy, conservation, population status, management, and sustainable hunting for 96 Caprinae phenotypes. This Atlas is of particular value to those who are involved in montane biodiversity and sustainable, community-based conservation planning in Holarctic montane ecosystems. The CIC Atlas simply is the definitive book on Caprines!"
– Raul Valdez, New Mexico State University, USA
"The authors undertook the difficult task to mediate between scientists' opinions, and created a handbook useful for a working knowledge of the nomenclature of these impressive mountain monarchs [...] the impressive illustrations in the Atlas are matched only by the accuracy of distribution maps [...] anyone who wants to conserve and/or hunt them, anyone who is in love with the evocative, unique landscapes where they dwell should own this book."
– Sandro Lovari, University of Siena, Italy
"I hope Gerhard Damm will not mind me saying that he is a perfectionist by nature, an extremely hard worker and, once he sets his mind to complete a task, he does it with a degree of thoroughness and professionalism it is hard for others to emulate. This truly groundbreaking work is an example of his dedication and I anticipate that it will be around for many decades to come [...] "
– Peter Flack, author, conservationist and hunter
"Finally, the book of sheep, goats and other mountain ungulates that every mountain hunter needs as a reference. The Atlas is the definitive work on Caprinae [...] The massive two volume set is the ultimate reference work for the mountain species of the world and probably will never be replaced [...] "
– John J Jackson, Chairman Conservation Force, USA