Bringing the Takhi back to Mongolia was not the end of a success story but the start of a new chapter at Hustai National Park. Little is known about the behaviour of wild Takhi and it was unclear how well they would acclimatise to their new environment. Their social behaviour, diet, health and movements within their homerange were all closely monitored. This monitoring continues with ecovolunteers coming to the park to collect data about the Takhi.

As an ecovolunteer you will live and work alongside experienced zoologists and botanists, assisting in such tasks as monitoring the distribution of a Takhi harem's homerange or recording their behaviour within each habitat. In early spring, mare behaviour is observed prior to and following foaling.

Upon arrival in Mongolia, Takhi spend up to two years in special acclimatisation enclosures before being released to the freedom of the park. Newly released harems are watched especially closely, as Takhi may wander outside the boundary of the park, clash with other harems or encounter wolves or other predators for the first time. The last harem is due for release in 2002 and ecovolunteers will be needed to monitor every aspect of their behaviour.

Throughout 2001, ecovolunteers observed and recorded foal behaviour such as the amount of time spent suckling, grazing, playing and resting and noted the time of day at which the behaviour occurred. The data collected will allow for the formulation of a baseline for foal behaviour, and Takhi researchers will then be able to monitor the progress of new foals against a standardised behaviour timeline.

Ecovolunteers may also participate in other fields during their stay. Hustai National Park wildlife researchers are involved in wildlife transects, marmot counts, wolf observations, bird registration and many other projects. Botany research includes monitoring changes in vegetation composition, vegetation mapping and Takhi food preferences.

If you wish to know more, please read about how to become an ecovolunteer or download our information pack.

If you wish to catch up with friends you met at the park or want to ask past ecovolunteers about their experiences you can leave a message on the ecovolunteers message board at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hustai_ecovolunteers

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