Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the government has favoured expanding mining operations and the sale of mining
rights.
The Ministry of Nature classifies protected areas into four categories (from most
protected to least):
SStriictly P
d Areas Very fragile areas of great importance; hunting, logging
and development are strictly prohibited and there is no established human influen-
ce.
NNatiional P
tly Protected A
al Parrks Places of historical and educational interest; fishing and grazing by
nomadic people is allowed and parts of the park are developed for ecotourism.
NNatuural & His
al Monuuments Important places of historical and cultural in-
terest; development is allowed within guidelines.
NNatuure R
al & Historiical Mo
e Reserves Less-important regions protecting rare species of flora and fauna,
and archaeological sites; some development is allowed within certain guidelines.
Animals
Despite the lack of water in the Gobi, numerous species (many of which are endangered)
somehow survive. These include the Gobi argali sheep
(argal)
, wild camel
(khavtgai)
,
Asiatic wild ass
(khulan)
, Gobi bear
(mazaalai)
, ibex
(yangir)
and black-tailed gazelle
(khar suult zeer)
.
In the wide open steppe you may see the rare saiga antelope, Mongolian gazelle
(tsagaan zeer)
, several species of jerboa
(alag daaga)
, which is a rodent endemic to Cen-
tral Asia, and thousands of furry marmots
(tarvaga)
, waking up after their last hiberna-
tion or preparing for the next. Further north in the forests live the wild boars
(zerleg
gakhai)
, brown bears
(khuren baavgai)
, roe deer
(bor görös)
, wolves
(chono)
, reindeers
(tsaa buga)
, elks
(khaliun buga)
, musk deer
(khuder)
and moose
(khandgai)
, as well as
plenty of sables
(bulga)
and lynx
(shiluus),
whose fur, unfortunately, is in high demand.
Most of the mountains are extremely remote, thus providing an ideal habitat for argali
sheep, ibexes, the very rare snow leopard
(irbis)
, and smaller mammals such as foxes, er-
mines and hares.
A
zud
(extremely harsh winter) is a natural phenomenon that occurs in Mongolia every
five to 10 years.
Zud
typically means extreme cold for extended periods, or heavy
snows. A particularly bad
zud
in 2000 and 2001 killed more than 10 million animals.
