Hay for the Przewalski’s horses

During the first days of 2024 it was snowing continuously. The snow cover in the plain measures about 10 cm, whereas in the mountain areas it reaches up to 40 cm. In order to avoid the Takhi getting weak, rangers are monitoring the Takhi and bring them hay to the Gobi B – hard work!

The Beauty of Wintertime

In winter, life is hard for the animals in the Great Gobi B. Nevertheless for rangers and photographers it becomes easier to spot even rare animals in the snow. Enjoy more beautiful pictures taken by Buyantogtohk Dorjbat in the Gobi B during the last days on Facebook.
Photo credits: Buyantogtohk Dorjbat

Happy New Year!

Last-Minute Idea

Are you still looking for a special Christmas-present for your loved ones? What about adopting a Takhi-foal? With this symbolic contribution you will help the entire Takhi population in the Great Gobi B. You will receive a certificate and, if you wish, the foal will get the name of your choice.

The Gobi B is covered with snow

Magic pictures with loads of snow and blu (or grey) skies mean a great challenge for humans and wild animals in the region. In the cold weather takhi have to find their way through the snow-covered landscape to find some food.

On the other hand the rangers try their best to get into the Gobi desert to observe the situation for wildlife and especially the takhi. It is important to have good cars and hay, to cope with wintertime, in order to track the Takhi and feed them with hay, if needed. If you want to support this important task:

Cashmere for Future

The ecosystem of the Great Gobi B is not only the habitat of specific and partly endangered fauna and flora. Nomads have also been using mainly two north-south routes through the protected area for centuries. As a biosphere reserve, the Great Gobi B aims to harmonise ecological conservation interests with the traditions of the local population.

In October 2022 the the local cooperative “Khowchiin Tsagaan Sort” was established to enable a direct sale of combed wool to fashion companies and yarn manufacturers. This should result in fair payment for the herders and on the same time through strict quality control reduce the herd size, thus decreasing the pressure on wildlife.

After one year, in October 2023, 45 herders met at the Khowchiin Tsagaan Sort meeting, where the project consultants gave a detailed introduction about cashmere and presented the very good results of laboratory analysis of the cashmere of the local cooperative.

To have enough capital it was agreed, that every member should give 1 kg of cashmere to the common fund. During the last year 100 kg of cashmere was sold to „Edelziege“ and 356 kg to Taliin aduu LLC

Edelziege brought hats and gloves back to the Gobi B which had been produced from the local cashmere. The herders were very impressed by the products and the two hats and one pair of gloves were given to different members by lottery.

Read the latest edition of the Takhi Post!

The 2022/23 Dzud hit rural areas of Mongolia hard and also in the Gobi B many animals died, including Przewalski’s horses. Read the article of ITG president Reinhard Schnidrig and an interview with the president of the Takhi-Friends, Christian Stauffer, in the latest issue of Takhi-Post. They talk about solutions to face such major risks in the future.

Any support of the project is warmly welcomed and will help to meet these challenges in order to stay one step ahead in the chess game of species conservation.

In memory of Stephan Siegfried, a great nature enthusiast

Stephan Siegfried left us on October 9, 2023. The thoughts of the International Takhi Group are with his family, and we share the sorrow over the loss of an amiable and dedicated friend.

As the son of the co-founder of the ITG, it was Stephan’s great concern to support the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horses in Mongolia through the Jean-Pierre und Sonja Siegfried Foundation, of which he was the president. Six years ago, he seized the opportunity to visit the passion project of his parents, Jean-Pierre and Sonja Siegfried, in Mongolia. He was excited to see ‘his father’s Takhi’ but was equally interested in Mongolia’s plants and other wildlife, especially his beloved birds.

Because of his love for nature and diverse people, he was able to easily form friendships in Mongolia. He was enthralled by the stories of the rangers and nomads, yet equally captivated them in return when he spoke enthusiastically of his many other journeys and encounters with animals.

Stephan, your enthusiasm, your inspiring and humorous, yet demanding personality, will continue to accompany us in our thoughts and support us in our work in Mongolia. Thank you, Stephan, farewell!