Country/Region: Mongolia
Partner: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
The khulan, or Asian wild ass, is a species native to the steppes and deserts of Asia. Known for their resilience and ability to travel vast distances in search of food and water, they are well adapted to Mongolia’s harsh, arid landscapes where around 80% of the world’s khulan population lives. In addition to poaching and habitat loss, khulans are also impacted by large linear infrastructure like the Trans-Mongolian Railway (TMR) that has become an impenetrable obstacle, cutting off access to the Eastern Steppe and leading to the local extinction of khulan east of the railway by the late 1970s.
To help reconnecting the khulan to their historical range in the Eastern Steppe, Fondation Segré is supporting a project implemented by Wildlife Conservation Society. The project will establish a 50-meter-wide safe passage near the Mongolia-China border to support their migration. Additionally, it will expand a local protected area by 950 km² to enhance habitat security and train 15 law enforcement officers in anti-poaching techniques to tackle illegal hunting.
