Which future for the Khulan?

While the Mongolian Wild Ass or « Khulan » in mongolian language (Equus hemionus subsp.), was until today listed in the IUCN red list as "vulnerable", this sub-species is since October 2008 listed as "endangered" that means "species that faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild". Indeed, its population, that was estimated to around 43 165 individuals in 1997 (Feh et al., 2001; Reading et al., 2001), was estimated to to less than 18 411 +/- 898 individuals in 2003 (Lkhagvasuren, 2007), suggesting a very high decline of its population, around 50% less. Any new population survey has been conducted since this time. 

The future of the Mongolian Wild Ass is today more than uncertain ...  

From the research I conducted last summer 2008 in the south and south-east Gobi ((Omnogovi aimag and Dornogovi aimag) and from the interview of  the local population and specialists working in the South Gobi Strictly Protected Areas that were conducted at the same time, the Mongolian Wild Ass's survival is mainly threatened by :

- the implementation of numerous iron mines (copper, gold, ...) and the 

  building of numerous roads that join these iron mines to the Chinese border;

- an increasing illegal poaching of Khulan and an increasing illegal trade of

  Khulan meat with also use of this sub-species in traditionnal medecine and

  other purpose;

- and predation by wolves.

The number of iron mines in the Gobi is highly increasing year after year, especially in the south Gobi: Omnogovi aimag, where from a confidential map I saw this summer, there would be iron mines licences in the quasi-totality of this aimag (province). The only areas whithout iron mines are restricted to Protected areas. The number of iron mines is less important in the south-east Gobi (Dornogovi aimag), but the number seems to be increasing year after year and very fast. 

In the Omnogovi aimag numerous roads were built to join the iron mines to the Chinese border. These roads cause the fragmentation of the Khulan's habitat but also of the black tailed Gazelle (Gazelle subgutturosa) and argali's habitat, and the numerous cars on these roads affraid this wildlife. Numerous natural open water points observed last summer in the Omnogovi aimag were very very close to roads (less or a little bit more than 1 km from the water point) disturbing a lot wildlife to access to water.

Because of this implementation of numerous iron mines in the Omnogovi aimag since the last few years, the Khulan population has moved from this aimag to the Dornogovi aimag. It is also the same for the black tailed Gazelle. But movement of this two species seem to be limited by the railway located in the east part of the south-east Gobi that join Bejing to Ulaanbaatar (Kaczensky et al. 2006, in prep.).  These two species won't cross this railway, or very rarely. Thus, moving of these species is limited, and focussed in the Dornogovi aimag. But this high concentration of Khulans and gazelles, with an increasing livestock year after year, will result in an increasing competition to access to pasture and water between wildlife and livestock. While water in the Gobi is a resource very rare and very scarce ...

Other threat for the Khulan survival: an increasing illeagl poaching and trade of Khulan meat. Illegal trade for meat would be estimated to around 3 000 individuals per year. If poaching of this subspecies is not stopped soon, decline of the Khulan population will be around 5-10%/year! (http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7951).

From the interview conducted last summer, with the local population and with specialists working in the South Gobi Strictly Protected Areas, poaching of Khulans in highly increasing since the last few years in the south Gobi. A market of Khulan meat would exist in the Chinese border, where Khulan meat is sold very cheaper than horse, cow, camel, sheep and goat meat, and where chinese people would be very interested by Khulan meat. Some Khulan's organs would be also used in traditionnal medecine. Khulan legs and tail would be also used as horsewhip to permit to horse to run faster.

Very few research and actions have been presently conducted for the Mongolian Wild Ass conservation in the south and south-east Gobi, where the Khulan population is presently the most concentrated. 

In the face of the critical status of this species, research and actions are urgently needed for Khulan conservation.

It is today the goal of the association GOVIIN KHULAN. For this, technical and financial support are needed to allow us to regularly conduct research and actions in-situ and on a long-term.

Find HERE the programm of the actions that we will conduct in 2009.   

Support our actions:

- Become member of GOVIIN KHULAN

- Give to save the Khulan from extinction and resolve conflicts between herders and Khulans

- Spread the word.