Wildlife

Takhi * Wolves * Red Deer * Mongolian Gazelles * Marmots * Birds

Hustai National Park is alive with wildlife.

On the open steppe, Takhi (Equus przewalksi) graze while marmot (Marmota sibirica) scan the sky for predators and whistle their alarm calls. In the cool of the day, hedgehogs (Mesechinus dauuricus) snuffle through the grass looking for insects. Pale corsac foxes (Vulpes corsac) hunt through the steppe for rodents such as susliks (Citellus undulates).

Female vulture with chick

Black vultures (Aegypius monachus) ride the thermals in slow circles high above the steppe. Saker falcons (Falco cherrug) stoop to take small birds flying only metres above the ground.

In the forests, red deer (Cervus elaphus) call and clash antlers during the autumn. Badgers (Meles meles) emerge at dusk to wander through the Moilt camp.

Red deer stag in autumn

Shy roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) graze amongst the trees, their movements tracked by wolves (Canus lupus). Wild boar (Sus scrofa) live in family groups, rarely seen amongst the birch. Somewhere in the forest, lynx (Lynx lynx) and weasels shelter amongst the rocks and trees.

Along the Tuul river Siberian wood frogs (Rana amurensis) nestle in the moist grass. Demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo) stride elegantly along the banks or fly overhead in large melodic groups. Ruddy shellducks (Tadorna ferruginea) swim past grey herons (Ardea cinerea) standing silently in the shallows and great cormorants (Phalocrocorax carbo) sunning themselves after fishing.

Sleepy baby jerboas

At night manul cats (Felix manul) and Siberian jerboas (Allactaga sibirica) dash across the road lit by the car's headlights.

Even around the gers and administration buildings wildlife can be seen. Families of longtailed hamsters (Cricetulus longicaudatus) dash along the paths and disappear into burrows beneath the gers and insectivorous birds such as the yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava) flit above the grass.

 

 

© Wobbygong Design 2001