Status and distribution of khulan (Equus hemionus) in Mongolia

Abstract

The Asiatic wild ass Equus hemionus, or khulan, once ranged across much of Central Asia, but is now globally threatened. The largest free-ranging populations are now restricted to a 250-km wide area (range 100±400 km) across the Gobi Desert region of southern Mongolia. Over the last 23 years the population has moved further north and east into its former range. Surveys conducted in the 1970s and 1980s estimated that the Mongolian population contained fewer than 15 000 animals and was declining as a result of human exploitation and livestock competition. Aerial surveys (one in autumn 1994, two in spring 1997) were¯own as line transects over portions of the khulan's range in Mongolia and ground surveys (®ve in spring, summer, and autumn 1994±97) were conducted by vehicle and foot. Sample sizes and areas surveyed were larger than previous surveys, and our methods were often more systematic. Population size was estimated at 33 000±63 000 wild asses in Mongolia. Animal density ranged from 4.2 1.3 to 19.1 3.2 per 100 km 2 . Mean group size ranged from four to 35 animals in the south-western Gobi, four to seven animals in the southern Gobi, and three to 18 in the south-eastern Gobi. Our data suggest that Mongolia is the most important stronghold for the conservation of E. hemionus. Conservation management continues to be challenging because intensive studies on khulan biology and ecology are just beginning. As a freemarket economy continues to emerge in Mongolia, pressure from resource extraction interests and nomadic livestock herders to remove the khulan's protected status, permit harvesting and halt population growth and expansion, also makes implementation of research and conservation management programs more imperative.

Age determination of the Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus Pallas, 1775) by the dentition patterns and annual lines in the tooth cementum

“…Its population is still decreasing year by year due to direct impact of illegal hunting, habitat degradation and limited water access in Mongolia (Feh et al, 2002;Stubbe et al, 2005;Clark et al, 2006;Kaczensky et al, 2006;Wingard and Zahler, 2006;Stubbe et al, 2007;Kaczensky and Walzer, 2008;Moehlman et al, 2008). However, almost 80% of the total population of the Mongolian wild ass in the World is found in Mongolia (Feh et al, 2002), hence the Mongolian population is critical to the preservation of the species (Reading et al, 2001). For long-term conservation of the Mongolian wild ass, specific knowledge on its biology and ecology is essential, including the influence of poaching on the population size and population structure.…”

Checklist of Mammals in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

“…We observed wild ass singly and in groups (up to 40 individuals) during the study. As Mongolia represents an important stronghold for the species (Reading et al, 2001), our observations suggest that Ikh Nart provides suitable habitats for wild ass at the fringe of their range. Both gazelle species also seem to occur seasonally, migrating into the area during the summer months, the extent to which may be determined partly by plant productivity (Leimgruber et al, 2001).…”

Habitat Fragmentation by Railways as a Barrier to Great Migrations of Ungulates in Mongolia

“…This species has a body size and morphology similar to those of the Mongolian gazelle, but it does not form large herds, and details of its ecology are still unknown. The Asiatic wild ass has lost 70% of its global range since the 19th century, and at present, more than 75% of the population (about 55,000 animals) lives in Mongolia (Kaczensky et al 2011a(Kaczensky et al , 2015Reading et al 2001). …”