Ulaanbaatar
Reindeer population in Mongolia increases
Society
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. The number of reindeer in Mongolia is growing in recent years. As of a census conducted in late 2018, the reindeer population reached 2349. Governor of Tsagaaannuur soum of Khuvsgul aimag Ch.Davaanyam said that there are two reasons behind the growth of the reindeer population, a species registered in the Mongolian Red Book of Endangered Animals and International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
First, President of Mongolia issued a decree in 2013 to give benefits to reindeer herders with a view to increase the livelihood of the reindeer herders and reduce the sales of reindeer for consumption. Secondly, the Government of Mongolia in cooperation with the World Organization for Animal Health started paying attention on the health of reindeer in Mongolia and vaccinating them. Each year, around 150-200 reindeer calves are born, however, around 30 percent of them die before reaching maturity due to attacks from wolves and dogs.
The number of reindeer that live at 2300-5000 meters above sea level started declining since the 1950s and currently, there are more than two thousand reindeer in few areas of Khuvsgul aimag in northern Mongolia. In 1996, the reindeer was included in the Red Book of Endangered animals, as its population dropped to only 200-400. In connection with the number of reindeer exceeded two thousand, a festival of 2000 reindeer will be held in Tsagaannuur soum of Khuvsgul aimag on August 16-17.
