The Use of High Frequency GPS Data to Classify Main Behavioural Categories in a Przewalski’s Horse in the Mongolian Gobi

Behavioral observations of free ranging animals can provide important insight into many aspects of their biology but are not without problems. The recent development of GPS technology allows to remotely collect high precision location data at fixed intervals. We tested whether it is possible to classify the behavior of a Przewalski’s horse in the Mongolian Gobi into Resting, Grazing and Moving based on GPS locations collected at 15 minute intervals by comparing GPS data with direct observations. Although behavioral categories lasting for 15 minutes could by fairly reliably separated based on the distances covered between successive fixes, almost half the dataset consisted of mixed intervals. Thus, fifteen minute intervals are too long to catch one behavioral category which makes classification based on GPS fixes alone problematic. Although our present approach was not particularly successful, we believe that using GPS data in combination with activity sensor and additionally including the geometry of locations holds great potential for inferring main behavioral categories in free ranging equids

Identification of Herder-Wild Equid Conflicts in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in SW Mongolia

In protected areas of Mongolian overgrazing, competition with wild ungulates and poaching are important management concerns. The Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in SW Mongolia is a re-introduction site for the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), a stronghold of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus), and remains an important grazing area for seminomadic herders. We show the power of simple inventory and monitoring methods to assess herder-wildlife conflicts, by combining data of: (1) human and livestock demographic data, (2) migration patterns, of semi-nomadic herders, (3) monthly surveys of wild- and domestic ungulates, and (4) observations of re-introduced, free-ranging Przewalski’s horses. A total of 111 semi-nomadic families with 57,657 head of livestock use the park, mainly in winter. Grazing impact of small stock affects 33% of the park area and is virtually absent in the core area. However, due to the unequal distribution of open water, livestock is present at almost all water points. Seasonal wild horse and wild ass distribution seems to be positively linked to water availability and negatively to herder presence. We documented several cases of wild ungulate poaching, but the magnitude of the problem remains unknown. There are still many knowledge gaps and local people need to be more actively involvement in park management. As this is a rather new approach in Mongolia, we suggest park management to move towards adaptive co-management, accompanied by simple, but sound monitoring and evaluation schemes

First Stable Isotope Analysis of Asiatic Wild Ass Tail Hair from the Mongolian Gobi

Stable isotope analysis has become a powerful tool to study feeding ecology, water use or movement pattern in contemporary, historic and ancient species. Certain hair and teeth grow continuously, and when sampled longitudinally can provide temporally explicit information on dietary regime and movement pattern. In an initial trial, we analysed a tail sample of an Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus) from the Mongolian Gobi. We found seasonal variations in H, C, and N isotope patterns, likely being the result of temporal variations in available feeds, water supply and possibly physiological status. Thus stable isotope analysis shows promise to study the comparative ecology of the three autochthonous equid species in the Mongolian Gobi

Identification of Herder-Wild Equid Conflicts in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in SW Mongolia

In protected areas of Mongolian overgrazing, competition with wild ungulates and poaching are important management concerns. The Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in SW Mongolia is a re-introduction site for the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), a stronghold of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus), and remains an important grazing area for seminomadic herders. We show the power of simple inventory and monitoring methods to assess herder-wildlife conflicts, by combining data of: (1) human and livestock demographic data, (2) migration patterns, of semi-nomadic herders, (3) monthly surveys of wild- and domestic ungulates, and (4) observations of re-introduced, free-ranging Przewalski’s horses. A total of 111 semi-nomadic families with 57,657 head of livestock use the park, mainly in winter. Grazing impact of small stock affects 33% of the park area and is virtually absent in the core area. However, due to the unequal distribution of open water, livestock is present at almost all water points. Seasonal wild horse and wild ass distribution seems to be positively linked to water availability and negatively to herder presence. We documented several cases of wild ungulate poaching, but the magnitude of the problem remains unknown. There are still many knowledge gaps and local people need to be more actively involvement in park management. As this is a rather new approach in Mongolia, we suggest park management to move towards adaptive co-management, accompanied by simple, but sound monitoring and evaluation schemes

Water Use of Asiatic Wild Asses in the Mongolian Gobi

Water is a key resource for most large bodied mammals in the world’s arid areas. With the growing human population, access to water for wildlife often becomes compromised. Equids are typical inhabitants of semi-arid to arid rangelands and need regular access to fresh water. However, their water needs are difficult to study under free-ranging conditions. In this study we investigated Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus) use of permanent water points in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in south-western Mongolia. We combined observational data from one specific water point with high frequency GPS location data from one radio-collared Asiatic wild ass mare. Observations and GPS data revealed that wild asses come to drink during all 24-hours of the day without an apparent diurnal pattern. The majority of wild asses came to the water point alone or in small groups. Other ungulates were largely ignored by wild asses, but the arrival of humans and their transportation devices almost always resulted in flight behavior. The monthly drinking frequency varied from every 1.5 to 2.2 days during the hot and dry season in June and August to every 2.3 to 3.8 days in April, May and September. Longer intervals between successive visits to permanent water points may explain why Asiatic wild asses can make use of pastures further away from water than sympatric Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). The lack of a clear diurnal pattern suggests that there is no specific time window in which wild ass are particularly vulnerable to disturbances at water points. However the high disturbance potential of humans and their transportation devices makes it desirable to restrict human impact at water points by re-routing transportation routes, or requiring a minimum distance from water for herder camps and wildlife viewing facilities

Water Use by Khulan in the Dzungarian Gobi in SW Mongolia

Water is the lifeline for the world’s drylands and the key for the distribution of water-dependent equids like khulan. We developed a simple algorithm using khulan tracks from GPS telemetry to identify waterpoints. This approach allowed us to obtain the first landscape-scale information on the use of waterpoints by khulan in Great Gobi B SPA. We discuss the merits and limitations of the algorithm and the implication for landscape level conservation

Capture and Anaesthesia of the Mongolian Wild Ass (\u3ci\u3eE. hemionus\u3c/i\u3e)

Science-based conservation efforts in general and wide-ranging equid conservation specifically, often require capture and subsequent handling of the subject animal. Safe and animal-welfare appropriate wild equid capture and anesthesia is a complex operation necessitating a multitude of skills that require appropriate veterinary training. In order to develop management plans for the Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus), which range over vast areas the use of radiotelemetry, is an essential tool. Radio-telemetry allows the researchers to better understand the habitat requirements and to delineate the areas of potential wildlife-human conflicts. To date we have successfully captured 16 wild ass in the Gobi regions of Mongolia. The agent of choice for wild ass capture and anesthesia is the potent opiate ethorphine in combination with specific opiate antagonists that allow for the complete reversal of the anesthetic effects. The recommended dosage for healthy, adult wild ass procedures anesthesia is a combination of 4.4 mg ethorphine, 10 mg buthorphanol and 10 mg detomidine. Anesthesia was reversed with the opioid antagonist-agonist diprenorphine or a combination of 200 mg naltrexone and the alpha2-antagonist 20 mg atipamezole. All wild asses were standing and alert approximately two minutes following administration of the antagonists

Water Use of Asiatic Wild Asses in the Mongolian Gobi

Water is a key resource for most large bodied mammals in the world’s arid areas. With the growing human population, access to water for wildlife often becomes compromised. Equids are typical inhabitants of semi-arid to arid rangelands and need regular access to fresh water. However, their water needs are difficult to study under free-ranging conditions. In this study we investigated Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus) use of permanent water points in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in south-western Mongolia. We combined observational data from one specific water point with high frequency GPS location data from one radio-collared Asiatic wild ass mare. Observations and GPS data revealed that wild asses come to drink during all 24-hours of the day without an apparent diurnal pattern. The majority of wild asses came to the water point alone or in small groups. Other ungulates were largely ignored by wild asses, but the arrival of humans and their transportation devices almost always resulted in flight behavior. The monthly drinking frequency varied from every 1.5 to 2.2 days during the hot and dry season in June and August to every 2.3 to 3.8 days in April, May and September. Longer intervals between successive visits to permanent water points may explain why Asiatic wild asses can make use of pastures further away from water than sympatric Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). The lack of a clear diurnal pattern suggests that there is no specific time window in which wild ass are particularly vulnerable to disturbances at water points. However the high disturbance potential of humans and their transportation devices makes it desirable to restrict human impact at water points by re-routing transportation routes, or requiring a minimum distance from water for herder camps and wildlife viewing facilities

Steppe ungulate count in Great Gobi B Strictly Protected area 2022

English: The plains of Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (subsequently “Great Gobi B”) in southwestern Mongolia are home to three endangered wild ungulates, khulan (Equus hemionus), takhi (Equus ferus przewalskii), and goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa). With Mongolia holding the largest populations of these species, their conservation is of global importance. To assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts, robust survey methods are needed to monitor population development. In late summer 2022 we conducted the 3rd plains ungulate count in Great Gobi B to estimate population size of khulan and goitered gazelle and describe population developmentsince the counts in 2010 and 2015 and tested the method for estimating the growing population of reintroduced Przewalski’s horses. We conducted Distance Sampling point counts at 101 observation points over 6 counting events (at 19:00, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00) at each observation point. During each counting event the observers scanned the surroundings using binoculars and registered species, number of animals, time, bearing and distance for each observation. Over the 606 counts, we observed 5,744 khulan, 3,150 gazelles and 922 Przewalski’s horses. Using these observations, we created global models(over all observation points and counting events) using the distance analysis framework and selected models with the best fit based on AIC values. Populations estimates for 2022 were 5,204 (95% CI = 2,121 – 12,771) khulan, 10,980 (95% CI = 7,473 – 16,132) goitered gazelles, and 1,288 (95% CI = 213 – 7,776) Przewalski’s horses within the 13,000 km2 survey area. Population estimates of both khulan and goitered gazelle suggested an increase from 2010 to 2015, while the 2022 estimated is closer to the 2010 estimates for khulan and in between for goitered gazelles. However, confidence intervals, especially for khulan, are large and population development cannot be determined conclusively. The uncertainty in the khulan estimate for 2022 was caused by the combination of a highly clumped distribution due to draught conditions and a large variation in group sizes. Goitered gazelles were more evenly distributed and group sizes less variable. Estimating Przewalski’s horse population resulted in a gross overestimate because of the knowledge rangers had about the location of Przewalski’s horse groups from intensive weekly monitoring. The data suggests that they specifically looked for groups, as Przewalski’s horses were detected almost equally likely over all distance categories. Confidence intervals were large because the population is still small (numbering just over 400) and distribution was also highly clumped due to the drought condition. The 2022 population estimates for khulan and goitered gazelles and the comparison with the estimates from 2010 and 2015 should be regarded as preliminary because: 1) The 3 surveys were analysed using slightly different distance analysisframeworks and 2) Distance Sampling does not take the spatial distribution of groups into account and we plan to explore such methods before we will reanalyse the 3 surveys within the same analysis framework.Norsk: På de mongolske slettene lever det tre truede ville klovdyrarter; asiatisk villesel (Equus hemionus), Przewalskihest (Equus ferus przewalskii) og struma gaselle (Gazella subgutturosa). De største populasjonene av disse artene på verdensbasis lever i Mongolia, og landet har dermed et særskilt ansvar for å ta vare på og forvalte disse artene. For å sikre en kunnskapsbasert og bærekraftig forvalting av populasjonene trengs informasjon om populasjonsutvikling og bestandsstørrelse. I denne undersøkelsen har vi gjennomført tellinger av viltlevende klovdyrarter i «Great Gobi B» i SV Mongolia for å estimere populasjonsstørrelsen og populasjonsutviklingen av asiatisk villesel og struma gaselle. Det har tidligere blitt gjennomført tellinger i 2010 og 2015, men dette er første gang det blir forsøkt å estimere populasjonsstørrelsen av przewalskihest. Vi gjennomførte tellinger fra 101 observasjonspunkter fordelt på 3 områder med 24 timers økter på hvert punkt. På hvert observasjonspunkt ble det gjennomført 6 runder med tellinger hvor observatørene skannet området med kikkert og registrerte antall dyr, tidspunkt, kompassretning og avstand. Vi lagde ulike modeller ved bruk av distance sampling metoden for å estimere populasjonsstørrelsen av asiatisk villesel, przewalskihest og struma gaselle i studieområdet for alle observasjonene samlet, og valgte den modellen med best AIC verdi. I tillegg analyserte vi data fra hver observasjonsrunde separat for å estimere populasjonsstørrelse på de forskjellige tidspunktene for asiatisk villesel og struma gaselle. I løpet av alle 6 observasjonsrundene telte vi totalt 5 744 asiatiske villesel, 3 150 struma gaseller og 922 przewalskihester. Populasjonsstørrelsen ble estimert til 5 204 (95% KI = 2 121 – 12 771) asiatiske villesel, 10 980 (95% KI = 7 473 – 16 132) struma gaseller og 1288 (95% KI = 213 – 7 776) przewalskihester innenfor studieområdet. Populasjonene for asiatisk villesel og struma gaselle viste en positiv utvikling mellom 2010 og 2015, men hadde en negativ utvikling fra 2015 til 2022. Usikkerheten i estimatene, spesielt for asiatisk villesel, er høy og det er vanskelig å trekke konklusjoner om populasjonsutvikling ut ifra dataene. 2022 var et uvanlig tørt år, og de asiatiske villeslene samletseg i en mindre del av studieområdet i nærheten av en vannkilde der beitegrunnlaget var bedre. Denne ujevne fordelingen i studieområdet er mest sannsynlig årsaken til den store usikkerheten i estimatene. Struma gaseller var mere jevnt fordelt i studieområdet, men usikkerheten i dataene var fortsatt høy, dog på et nivå som kan forventes av en stor‐skala undersøkelse i et system med lav tetthet. Å estimere przewalskihest populasjonen bød på samme problemer som for asiatiske villesel, men gir enda større usikkerhet på grunn av det lave antallet observasjoner. Det ble brukt litt ulike analysemetoder innenfor distance metodikken i de 3 undersøkelsene fra 2010, 2015 og 2022, og det ble ikke tatt hensyn til forskjell i størrelsen av studieområdene mellom de ulike årene. For videre arbeid planlegger vi å analysere alle dataene samlet for å oppnå mer pålitelige resultater. Et av problemene med distance metoden er at analysene ikke tar hensyn til den romlige fordelingen av grupper, noe som vi ønsker å utforske ved bruk av andre metoder.Financed by: Vontobel‐Stiftung, International Takhi Group, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Great Gobi B administration, Prague Zo

First Experience with a Camera Collar in a Free-Ranging Przewalski’s Horse Group in the Mongolian Gobi

Remote sensing and satellite telemetry have allowed to greatly expanding the understanding of how species use various landscapes, even in remote settings. However, remotely collecting data also harbors the risk of losing “touch with the ground.” We explore the possibility of the additional insight cameras integrated in GPS-satellite collars can provide for the behavior and ecology of free-ranging Przewalski’s horse in the remote Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in southeastern Mongolia. Over a 91-day period, the camera collected 1,080 images. 62% of the images showed Przewalski’s horses and provided insights into behavior and grouping patterns and can supplement indirect measures of behavior from acceleration sensors. Other images provided first information on insect harassment and show the potential of images for ground-truthing environmental conditions, for example, the occurrence of rainfall. The potential for camera collars as an additional tool to study large-bodied ungulates in remote ecosystems seems really promising, although this relatively new technology seems still prone to technical failures