ULAN BATOR, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The population of Mongolian wild asses (Equus hemionus), also known locally as Gobi Khulan, has reached approximately 90,000, accounting for around 80 percent of the estimated global population, according to the Mongolian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change on Monday.
These wild asses inhabit an area of approximately 262,000 square km in the Gobi region of Mongolia, which represents only about 20 percent of their historical range, the ministry stated.
Despite the overall increase in their population, Mongolian wild asses continue to face threats, including illegal hunting for their meat and hooves, as well as pressure from nomadic herders who chase them away to protect their livestock pastures.
In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has designated Oct. 25 each year as "Khulan Conservation Day," which was celebrated for the first time this year. ■
