Yes, they are the same, two species of marmots very common across Central Asia. Natives do not feed Taigans in the summer; the dogs are catching and eating fat marmots. Even females dig their own dens and raise puppies on their own.
Their livestock guarding dogs live a similar life, not fed in the summer; dogs scavenge for afterbirths, catch small mammals and marmots are a very important natural supplement in their diet.
Those marmots are huge Vlad,they look like giant orange hamsters,a terriermans wet dream,I bought a hat made from one once at Kashgar market as a piss-take