The Mongolian Wild Ass conservation

The Mongolian Wild Ass or "Khulan" in mongol (Equus hemionus subsp.), sub-species of the Asiatic Wild Ass, is listed in the red list of the IUCN as an “endangered species” that means a species « 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 CITES since 1973, and in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. (To learn more about the Khulan, go here: « The Mongolian Wild Ass »).

The population of this sub-species principaly occurs in the south-east Gobi, with a small population in the south-west of Mongolia (Dzungarian Gobi). But since the end of the 1990’s, this population has known a dramatic decline in khulans’ s number. There were between 30,000 – 60,000 individuals in the 1990’s, while from the last survey conducted in 2004 less than 20,000 individuals Khulan were still alive. But the existence since the last few years of an illegal poaching of Khulans for meat is decreasing more and more the Khulan population size, year after year.

In the Gobi, 99% of the habitat is used as livestock pasture. 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. Khulans preferentially use natural open water points or digging holes they made at dry river beds. Khulans can also use wells or human settlements bringing water from the ground, only when they are not used by humans and their livestock, and if they are abandoned (Souris, personal observations, 2008).

An increasing building of iron mines and roads that join these iron mines to the Chinese border with a high car traffic on, an increasing poaching of Khulans for meat with an increasing illegal trade of its meat, the use of Khulan’s organs in traditional medicine, as well as an  increasing numbers of domestic livestock that increase competition between livestock and wildlife to access to natural resources such as pastures and water, are the main causes of the Khulan number decrease and the main threats for its survival in the wild.

Even if the population view the Khulan as a symbolic species in Mongolian culture, massive livestock losses during the recent severe winters have led to increase poaching of Khulan for meat. Herders view the Khulan as the principal competitor for livestock to have access to pasture and water, which is resulting in increased pressure on the government to allow a reduction in Khulans number and to remove the Khulan’s protected status.

Very little research has been and is presently conducted on this sub-species. The Mongolian Wild Ass is a very shy animal and is living in a huge habitat that makes its study pretty difficult.

In the face of the critical situation of the Mongolian Wild Ass and the lack of research and actions conducted for its conservation, Goviin Khulan as for aim to:

- conduct research in-situ on the behavioural ecology of this sub-species ;

- conduct and implement conservation actions ;

- inform, grow awareness and educate the local population on this species protection, on biodiversity conservation and on natural resources management ;

      - involve the native population in this project;

      - to support the local population in its activities and support education;

      - to bring technical and financial support to rangers working in the south and south-east Gobi and to strongly cooperate with them on the long term;

      - and to participate in the conduction of touristic, scientific and ethic tour in our study area and on creation of supports for local eco-tourism activities ;

   To learn more about each aim, click on the words that are put in bold and blue in the text.