Gobi Bear? Or Nowhere? Soon to be Extinct in Mongolia
Photo Credit: Gobi Bear Project
The Gobi bear is a unique species of brown bear living exclusively in the Mongolian Gobi Desert. The cute but scraggly-looking bear, also known to the Mongolians as “Mazaalai”, is critically endangered, with less than 40 individuals left in the wild.
While some may have heard of the Gobi bear through the CBC television show Heartland, many are unaware of the bear’s existence and re-population struggles. Common knowledge of the Gobi bear may be slim because the hashtag, #savethegobibears, is not as prevalent on social media platforms as it should be.
Inhabiting the harsh environment of the Gobi Desert in south-western Mongolia, the bears have adapted and managed to thrive in vast sand dunes and ice-filled canyons. They must also contend with harsh desert winds and minimal rainfall. However, according to the Gobi Bear Project, which “promotes [the] conservation and protection of a critically endangered species, the Gobi bear,” human activity in the desert has been a largest threat to the Gobi population.
Plentiful mineral deposits attract international mining corporations, who set up illegal large-scale mining operations in the desert. The areas where Gobi bears dwell are also commonly targeted by illegal hunters, and farmland across the desert assists the frequent traversing and overgrazing of livestock, which damages the grasslands.
Feeding on wild rhubarb, berries, nitre bush, grass shoots, wild onion, and other plants supported by desert springs, the Gobi bears have a unique diet. Changing climate and overgrazing livestock make it increasingly difficult for these wandering bears to find food.
The Gobi Bear Project states that the bears occupy three main areas within the ‘Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area — Zone A.’ The area was established in 1976 and covers a total distance of around 46,369 square kilometers, but the bears tend to have much larger home ranges and travel greater distances to try and mate.
In an interview with The UB Post, Dr. Harry Reynolds, the leader of the Gobi Bear Project, spoke on the issue of connecting bears for re-population. In the interview, Reynolds said, “One way to connect bear genetic diversity to bears in national parks is to build overpasses for them. Because right now they are in danger trying to cross the railroad tracks. They have the problem of getting hit by a train.”
Reynolds explained inbreeding is not an issue for the bears because “[the] population is not isolated by its lack of genetic diversity.” Although the genetic diversity is low, the main issue is connectivity between the bears. Building bridges would help promote connectivity and help keep the bears alive to #savethegobibears.
The Mongolian government has also introduced supplemental feeding sites in an effort to promote Gobi bear survival. First introduced in the early 1990s, the sites were primarily functional after the winter hibernation period during March or early April, according to the 2010 Gobi Bear Progress Report. When additional funding was available, further feeding was provided during the fall months. The Gobi Bear Project helps the government manage these feeding sites.
The Gobi Bear Project also fit 20 Gobi bears with GPS satellite radio collars. The project website states that the collars help in “understanding how the bears move in and utilise their landscape and thus enable [the researchers] to determine how their behaviour relates to their survival.”
Even after the introduction of designated protected areas, continuous tracking, and government-implemented feeding sites, the Gobi bear population remains pocket-sized. However, through increased awareness and funding for Gobi bear research and conservation, the world can help the Gobi bears continue to survive and thrive in the Mongolian desert.