This October 25th, Mongolia celebrated its first national Khulan Conservation Day! This landmark event, officially recognized by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and supported by WCS Mongolia, aimed to shine a spotlight on the nomadic khulan (Mongolian wild ass) and its vital role in the fragile Gobi-Steppe ecosystem.
The day marked a step forward for khulan conservation, bringing together over a hundred academics, conservationists, representatives from key state agencies, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders, young people, and media. Dr. Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar, WCS Mongolia Senior Scientist, reflected, "We've come a long way! I remember when I started my career two decades ago, and khulans were largely overlooked. Today, our scientific understanding of this species has grown tremendously, and we now recognize their vital importance to Mongolia's ecosystem”. Today, khulans symbolize the integrity and resilience of Mongolia’s landscapes, highlighting the critical need for their conservation. Their presence underscores the urgent necessity to keep these ecosystems connected, allowing wildlife to roam freely (without fences, for example).
Engaging the Community, Inspiring the Future
WCS Mongolia partners closely with pastoral communities and local stakeholders in to promote conservation efforts. In Khatanbulag soum, home to over 40% of khulan population in the region, Khulan Conservation Day activities and school art competition focused on raising awareness and fostering community engagement. Over 40 students, aged 6 to 15, drew khulans and shared their perspectives on this important species.
School children participated in interactive sessions led by our Wildlife Biologist Ch.Bayarmaa, who explained how khulans act as engineers of the Gobi ecosystem by digging for water sources that other wildlife depend on, as they need water every 1-2 days, especially during warmer seasons. These engaging sessions included fun quizzes, games, and educational resources about khulan conservation, helping students gain a deeper understanding of this vital species.
Bayarmaa also shared with the children, “As a conservationist, I take pride in saying that I grew up in western Mongolia, the land of snow leopards and saiga antelope. Similarly, you have the rare privilege of living alongside khulans, which presents an incredible opportunity to appreciate and protect these unique species.”
The children, who see khulans almost daily near their soum center, were fascinated by how these animals adapt to their environment and their role in the ecosystem. The day also marked the establishment of the "Eco Club" at the Khatanbulag soum school, with the goal of inspiring future generations to become khulan conservation champions.
Beyond Borders: A Call for Global Action
Khulan Conservation Day wasn't confined to Khatanbulag and Ulaanbaatar. Social media public awareness campaigns reached a wider global audience, informing international and local communities about Khulan Conservation Day and the importance of khulan conservation. Teams in Kazakhstan shared social media posts celebrating khulan reintroduction efforts in their country on Khulan Conservation Day, while a khulan researcher from Turkmenistan underscored the day’s significance. The IUCN Equid Specialist Group and the CMS Central Asian Mammal Initiative contributed video messages, emphasizing the importance of this occasion and extending their best wishes for its success.
Another special video, produced by Peak.mn, amplified the message further, reaching much wider audiences beyond the conservation community.
Dr. Justine Shanti Alexander, Country Director at WCS Mongolia, describes Khulan Conservation Day as "a very special day." The official recognition and ownership by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is crucial. With Mongolia hosting nearly 90% of the global khulan population, it plays a critical role in safeguarding this magnificent species. Could Mongolia lead establishing an International Day with the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) one day? We hope so.
Looking Ahead: International Khulan Conservation Day?
The success of the first Khulan Conservation Day paves the way for a stronger commitment to protecting khulans, a remarkable nomadic ungulate known for its record-breaking long-distance movements among terrestrial mammals. Our long-term research in the South Gobi have recorded Khulans traveling 5,000 to 6,000 kilometers annually in search of food and water. Moving forward, WCS Mongolia looks forward to supporting the government in finalizing and gaining national approval for the Khulan Action Plan as the next step.
This blog post is just the beginning of an essential conversation. We invite you to join us in advocating for a global Khulan Conservation Day every year on October 25th. Let's honor these nomadic icons, which require over 100,000 square kilometers of interconnected ecosystems to thrive. By ensuring their survival, we preserve a legacy of awe-inspiring wildlife movements, strengthen the health of our shared environment, and foster a global sense of stewardship of all life on Earth.
We thank Cartier for Nature, Mongolian Children's Aid and Development Fund, Sustainability East Asia LLC, and Oyu Tolgoi LLC for supporting this initiative.