MONGOLIA TO PROTECT GOBI BEAR

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A forum dedicated to issues of Gobi bear /Ursus arctos gobiensis/ ran January 9 at the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Green development. The attendees were specialists from the Institute of Biology of Mongolia's Academy of Sciences, representatives of related nongovernmental organizations. Together with the Ministry experst they thoroughly talked about activities related to this unique animal--a protection, breeding in specially prepared environment, restoring their areas of population. At present, eight female and 14 male Gobi bears are left living in Mongolia only. Last spring, a national park was established in Great Gobi's protedted area to breed these bears. This work was financed 150 million togrog. Moreover, related officials are seeking ways to create there next year an animals' zoo adjusted to the local eco system. The Gobi bear is one of the rarest species on earth, it lives in the unique landscape of the Transaltai-Gobi desert in Mongolia only. The Gobi bear as known also as Mazaalai in Mongolia, is listed as very rare in the Mongolian Red Book. Its main habitat is located in the surroundings of the oases Baruun Tooroi and Shar Khulsny Bulag. The total area of its current habitat is estimated to be only 10,000 to 15,000 square kilometers. Ch.Enkhtuya