Asiatic Wild Ass Recolonizes Eastern Mongolia After 65-Year Absence
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The Asiatic wild ass, or khulan, has returned to eastern Mongolia for the first time in more than 65 years. Hundreds of the animals have crossed through gaps in the fenced Trans-Mongolian Railway, a barrier that had restricted their movement since the mid-20th century. The return follows a collaborative pilot project to create safe passage zones and is supported by plans for a new local protected area.
Facts First
- Hundreds of khulan have crossed to eastern Mongolia after a 65-year absence due to a fenced railway barrier.
- A pilot project temporarily removed fencing in 2019, leading to the first confirmed crossing in 2020.
- A monitored 'safe passage' zone was designated last May near the China–Mongolia border.
- The Mongolian Gobi supports over 84% of the global khulan population, approximately 91,000 animals.
- Plans are advancing for a new local protected area east of the railway to support long-term habitat security.
What Happened
The Asiatic wild ass, also known as khulan (Equus hemionus), is reestablishing itself in eastern Mongolia for the first time in more than sixty years. A recent study found that hundreds of khulan have crossed through a gap along the perimeter of the fenced-off Trans-Mongolian Railway (TMR). This follows a 2019 pilot project where the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mongolia, local government authorities, and partners temporarily removed 1.5 kilometers of fencing across three sections. Camera traps recorded the first confirmed khulan crossing in 65 years in March 2020. Findings published this month in the journal Oryx indicate khulan are now regularly present in multiple groups east of the TMR.
Why this Matters to You
This successful recolonization demonstrates that targeted conservation actions can reverse decades of habitat fragmentation. It could serve as a model for other regions where human infrastructure, like railways and fences, blocks wildlife migration. The return of a native species may help restore ecological balance in the eastern Mongolian plains. For conservationists and local communities, it represents a tangible success from years of collaborative work.
What's Next
Plans are advancing for a new local protected area east of the railway to support long-term habitat security and khulan recolonization. The testing of temporary fence gaps showed wildlife could cross safely without increasing train collisions, which may inform future infrastructure planning. Broader national conservation goals are also in motion, as a recent agreement with the Nature Conservancy aims to increase Mongolia's protected land and water from 13% to 30%.