The Mongolian Khulan

The Mongolian Khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) is one of the 5 recognized sub-species of the Asiatic wild ass (from which one is today totally extinct in the wild), and is endemic to the south Gobi, south of Mongolia. This sub-species is only living in the south Gobi and anywhere else in the world.

The Asiatic wild ass belongs to the Equids, like horses, donkeys, zebras, Przewalski's horses, African wild ass, but is a species on its own. 

The Mongolian Khulan is listed in the Red List of the IUCN as “endangered" that means that this species is threatened with a high risk of extinction in the wild. The Khulan is also listed as an “endangered species” in the Red Book of Mongolia. Internationally, this sub-species is listed in Appendix I of the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) since 1973, and in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

The former range of the Asiatic wild ass between the seventeenth and the middle of the nineteenth century encompassed the greater part of Mongolia, small areas of Siberia and Manchuria, the western part of Inner Mongolia and the northern part of Xinjiang. Today, the most abundant population of the Asiatic wild ass, represented by the Mongolian wild ass sub-species (Equus hemionus hemionus) or “Khulan” in mongolian that represents > 80% of the total number of the species occurs only in the southern part of Mongolia and only three individuals of this sub-species are presently living in captivity. Therefore, Mongolia is a very important stronghold of the Mongolian wild ass.

     The population of the Mongolian Khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) was estimated in 2003 at 18,411 +/- 898 in four areas (Lkhagvasuren 2007). Southern Mongolia currently holds the largest population of Asiatic wild ass in the world, representing almost 80% of the global population (Feh et al. 2002). However, this population is at risk due to illegal hunting and numbers have declined significantly from an estimated population size of 43,165 in 1997 (Feh et al. 2001, Reading et al. 2001) / http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/7951/0

In the Gobi, 99% of the habitat is used as livestock pasture. In such habitats long-distance transhumance is a necessity for sustainable pastoralism. Thus, semi-nomadic herders need access to large tracts of land, including protected areas. Moreover, political changes in the early 1990’s forced urban populations to return to nomadic land use, resulting in a sharp increase in human and livestock numbers in many rural areas.

Water in the Gobi desert area is a critical resource for humans, livestock production and influence wildlife habitat, but is very rare and very scarce. In such area, access to water appears to be one key for the conservation of wild Equids, and if access to water can be secured it can ensures optimal nutritional care of their offspring without huge energy demands on the mother pre and post partum.

Most water for human and livestock must be obtained from small and hand drawn wells. Numerous mechanical wells were built during the collective era, but most of them have fallen into disrepair since 1990. Because of this lack of wells, herders and their livestock are forced to use open water points also used by wildlife. Khulan do not avoid wells or human settlements, but they preferentially drink at open water points or digging potholes they made in dry river beds or dry water points (Kaczensky et al., 2006, and Anne-Camille Souris, observations made in 2008 and 2009). Wells allow human presence in areas where there is little surface of water. But if there is an open water source nearby, then, herders will preferentially use it compare to wells.

Mongolia’s rural economy is mostly based on livestock, thus wild ungulates have to   co-exist with semi-nomadic pastoralists.

      From the interviews Anne-Camille Souris and her team conducted in 2006, 2008 and 2009  it appears that traditionally Mongolian people view the Khulan as an honored animal in Mongolian culture. Most of local people and herders interviewed think that the Khulan should be protected from extinction. But, massive livestock losses during the recent severe winters have led to increase poaching of Khulan for meat. From a nationwide survey, the illegal take of Khulan was estimated at 3,000 individuals annually (Wingard and Zahler, 2006).

From the research our team conducted in the south and south-east Gobi (Ömnögobi aimag and Dornogobi aimag) in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and from interviews of the local population and specialists working in the South Gobi Strictly Protected Areas that we conducted at the same time, the Mongolian Khulan's survival is mainly threatened by :

- habitat fragmention with resources extraction (copper, gold, coal...) and

the building of numerous roads and some railways joining mines to the

Chinese border;

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

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

other purpose;

- and a possible competition with livestock to access to natural ressources.

A short article about threats affecting Mongolian Khulan survival

Help protect this endangered species and its habitat // Support our actions !