Altai Marmot Marmota baibacina

The Altai Marmot is native to Central Asia, covering southeastern Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Tian Shan mountains area, mountain foothills of eastern China, Siberia and the Mongolian Altai.

Altai Marmots are large rodents living at high altitudes. Larger than a domestic cat, they are vegetarian, sociable and live in burrows.

They are related to ground squirrels. Photos immediately above and below are from Alexandra Makhnina.

They like sunbathing on warm rock, even when Golden Eagles are overhead.

A youngster outside a burrow.

Marmot burrows.