A Few Footprints of Gobi Bears Found Behind Segs Tsagaan Bogd Mountain

(Translated by Otgonsuren.J)

Gobi bears, which are in great danger of extinction, are getting fewer and fewer each day in the Mongolian. A 84 years old gamekeeper TS.Zeskhuu who follow after this animal for the past 20 years were interviewed by Nomad Green’s citizen journalist. 

-Can you tell me where exactly Gobi bears are living? Is it possible to see them if we go there right now?

-They may be witnessed at the front of Segs Tsagaan Bogd mountain between Atas Inges range.  A few Gobi bears used to inhabit beyond the Ekhiin gol river, around the range of Egemiin nuruu, but right now all of them disappeared.

There are a few footprints of Gobi bears behind the mountain Segs Tsagaan Bogd. However there is a very rare chance to see them. Gobi bears are hibernation in the winter from the end of November till early March. So there is no chance to see the Gobi bears now.

-  When did you see them the last time?

-The last time I saw them was two years ago. Now as a pensioner I cannot go after them anymore. Commonly, people go after them by horse or camel in order to approach them.  Recently, I heard that some of our gamekeepers who provide foods in certain areas where the Gobi bears mostly occur, have seen them.

-How many Gobi bear are still there in your opinion?

-Our gamekeepers say that there are around twenty Gobi bears, but I think there are more. The first time I saw them I was at 15. At that time there were many Gobi bears. They looked very cute when they went with cubs. But now, the cubs became very rare here. The footprints of the cubs is unmistakable, very little and cute footprints they are. I heard that a Gobi bear gives birth to 1 cub every two years, so they are slow breeding animal. It is a very rare opportunity to give birth twins. Originally, it is possible to give birth every year if there is enough foods for them.

-What do Gobi bear eat usually and how do you feed them up?

- Originally, gobi bear is are predatory/carnivorous animal. But they are herbivorous also. They eat roots of rhubarb, some berries grow in gobi desert, and also rodent and insects. Roots of rhubarb grow deep into the dry Gobi soil and they dig it with their teeth and feet.

But they eat the food provided by human when the herb and nourishment are decreasing. Gobi bears return again to where the food is given to them. The most powerful ones eat at first, and weakness one eats the rest of food. After fed up they lay down under shadow of hillock or bushes. Once I was 3-4 meter close to the this animal in order to take a chance to take their pictures. They roared and got on the ground low when they saw us human beings. I was frightened so I did not get any closer because they are wild animal that might infest us.

-Is there any place in the world except Mongolia where live Gobi bears?

-Only a few Gobi bears and wild camels still live in Mongolia only. Chinese people say that Mongolian Gobi bears come from a Chinese mountain with snow covered at the top when you look from range of Khonin Usni Gobi, at western part of Mongolia. It seems that certain amount of Gobi bears were in Chinese territory but they are diminished forever from that land.

-I guess there are many people come from outside to you and ask to see the Gobi bears. But the chances are low to see the bear for everyone, isn't it?

-Of course, many people have visited my home. Some of them followed me. Once a Canadian man traveled with me for 45 days through the Segs Tsagaan Bogd mountain in order to see Gobi bear. He did saw the bears and took their pictures. But most of times nothing can be seen no matter how far or long you travel.

-How long have you been following and protecting Gobi bears?

-Since 1976, I have been working as a gamekeeper for 18 years. To follow after wild animal and protect them is a very exciting job. The human beings are essentially connected to the nature. So we must save the nature because it is our mother.

-How do you feel about the climate changes that are influencing the ecological situation?

-Desertification is getting faster. Many rivers and lakes are drying. The herbs and graces are disappearing year by year. Once the greenery /herbs, plant/ is getting poorer and the wild animals are going to die from starvation or migrate to nother places.

I would like to say that we need to search any methods to make more the rains in the Gobi area. After a good rainy summer in Gobi the wild animals will have enough food for 2-3 years.

-How was the last summer, was it raining?

-This year was bad. No rain. Since Two years ago there was rain. Monks came to our soum /province/ that time and sacrificed the mountain and prayed, then the rain began. It seemed true it was after sacrificing to the mountain than it rained. I believed it. If it rains 4-5 times in Gobi in the summer it means it is a very good summer.

-Now how about this winter?

- This winter is not so good. Even 40.000-50.000 live stock will be encamped this winter at the Gobi’s strictly protected area. When the live stock enter the strictly protected area, wild animal will be flushed and flora and plant will be destroyed. I think it is a wrong decision from the Government. However the situation of this winter is getting worse, we have to keep the rule that the "strictly protected area" literally means.