(May 22, 2025) [Mongolian below] Blog by Bayarmaa Chuluunbat, Wildlife Biologist at WCS Mongolia. Many people think of snow leopards as elusive wild cats roaming the snow-covered high mountains. However, few would believe that this species, often referred to as the “ghost of the mountains,” also occurs in the harsh, arid climate of the Gobi Desert, where food and water are scarce. Mongolia’s Gobi region forms an important habitat for snow leopards. Despite their broad distribution fr...

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(May 15, 2025) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Mongolia, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is launching a five-year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Beginning in May 2025, the project aims to support the rehabilitation of the Khangai mountain landscapes and improve livelihoods for local communities in Central Mongolia. The project, titled "Rehabilitating and...

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(April 28, 2025) The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mongolia has formalized enhanced collaborations with the provincial governments of Umnugobi, Dornogobi, and Sukhbaatar through newly signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Collectively, these provinces encompass over 23% of Mongolia's territory, stretching from the arid Gobi Desert to the eastern grasslands. These strengthened partnerships underscore the vital role of local governance and community engagement in preserving Mongolia's diverse ...

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(March 26, 2025) The Mongolian saiga (Saiga borealis) faces a range of ecological challenges, not only within Mongolia but across its entire range in Central Asia. The Fifth Meeting of Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Saiga Conservation, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from March 12-14, 2025, brought together government representatives from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia—countries where the saiga is found. This important meeting, held under the framework of...

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(February 12, 2025)   -   The goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), despite possessing the widest distribution range of any ungulate in Mongolia, remains one of the least studied ungulate species globally. While Mongolia harbors the world's largest population of these animals, scientific understanding of their behavior and adaptability is limited. This knowledge gap is particularly concerning given the increasing pressures of habitat fragmentation due to rapid development, especially linear infrastructure like roa...

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(December 03, 2024) 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, inter...

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(November 07, 2024)   -   On October 16th, 2024, WCS Mongolia hosted a workshop, with support from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, which brought together over 25 organizations and various stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of Mongolia’s international conventions. The workshop aimed to facilitate coordination and alignment of national activities regarding the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the Convention on International Trade in En...

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(August 08, 2024)   -   The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) today launched its new Mongolia Program Strategy for 2024-2030. Aligned with Mongolia’s Vision 2050 and the priorities of the newly established Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the strategy aims to protect and restore the nation’s vital ecosystems while addressing critical environmental challenges, including climate change.

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(June 05, 2024)   -   A harsh winter in Mongolia, known as a dzud, has caused heavy livestock losses and is also likely harming the country's wildlife. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is particularly concerned about the impact on the Khulan (Asiatic Wild Ass), an animal already classified as "Near Threatened."

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