On 10 December 2024, the annual meeting of the members of the Club of Mountain Hunters took place in Moscow. This event served as a key moment for summarising the year's achievements, discussing new projects and strengthening ties between Club members.
Opening Tribute to Dmitry Germanovich Medvedev
In his opening remarks, CMH President Eduard Vitalyevich Bendersky proposed honouring the memory of Dmitry Germanovich Medvedev— a member of the Club, scientific consultant for CMH projects, scientist, PhD in Biology. Dmitry Medvedev passed away in August 2024 during another mountain expedition, leaving behind a significant contribution to the study and conservation of wild mountain ungulates.
Year in Review
- CMH President Eduard Vitalyevich Bendersky reported on the achievements and key highlights of 2024:
- The Club’s online community now includes approximately 1,500 members.
- The CMH ranking features 180 Club members, 53 of whom were nominated for awards.
- New awards were introduced, including the Methuselah Prize for the oldest trophy and the CMH Pantheon for 100 trophies taken from the OVIS and CAPRA lists.
- Decisions were made to recognise new subspecies, such as the Northern Altai Argali (Mongolia) and the Skardu Markhor (Pakistan).
- Changes were implemented in the ranking system to encourage predator hunting and the harvest of the oldest male specimens.
- The Club continued to implement important projects aimed at preserving biodiversity:
- Studying the Kharuulakh Snow Sheep: Trapping and tagging of animals were conducted to study their migration patterns.
- Restoration of Caucasian Chamois and Bezoar Goat Populations: The populations of these species in the North Caucasus nearly doubled, with offspring successfully bred in controlled environments for the first time.
- CMH Member Doncov I.B.'s "Zavyalov Island" Project: The reintroduction of musk oxen and snow sheep to Zavyalov Island is progressing successfully. In 2024, a record number of sheep were relocated, bringing the musk ox population to 79 individuals.
Changes in Leadership
Changes were made to CMH’s leadership structure:
- Evgeny Shirokov and Alexey Tuzov became new members of the Presidium.
- Sergey Uspensky, Sergey Yastrzhembsky, and Sergey Volochkovich joined the Board of Trustees.
- New patrons of the Club were noted, including Yuri Chichoyan (Platinum Level) and Dmitry Afinogentov, Sergey Tyutchev, and Dmitry Fedotov (Silver Level).
International Participation
A member of the ruling family of Qatar, Sheikh Abdulla bin Faisal Al Thani, President of the Middle East Chapter of Safari Club International, attended the meeting and delivered a welcome speech to the Club members.
The annual meeting of CMH confirmed that the community remains an active participant in conservation efforts, hunting research, and the strengthening of international cooperation. The Club continues to make a significant contribution to the preservation of mountain ecosystems and the development of hunting culture.
A member of the ruling family of Qatar, Sheikh Abdulla bin Faisal Al Thani, President of the Middle East Chapter of Safari Club International, attended the meeting and delivered a welcome speech to the Club members.
The annual meeting of CMH confirmed that the community remains an active participant in conservation efforts, hunting research, and the strengthening of international cooperation. The Club continues to make a significant contribution to the preservation of mountain ecosystems and the development of hunting culture.
