Mongolia Field Program update • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • AZA 2015 Mid-year meeting Columbia, SC Mongolia Program Overview • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Denver’s Zoo Mongolia Conservation Program established 1996 • Support of program has been through direct funding and participation of zoo staff • Ikh Nart Nature Reserve • Training next generation of conservationists Russia • Conservation initiatives through education in local communities China Ikh Nart Nature Reserve • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Established research camp • Earthwatch volunteers • Year round research activities with multiple species, plant life / ecology, archaeology, education, community involvement – Argali sheep & Cinereous vultures Argali & Siberian Ibex project • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Worked through three types of animal capture for placement of radio and GPS collars (Kenny et al. Successful field capture techniques for free-ranging argali sheep (Ovis ammon) in Mongolia. Zoo Biology 2008; 27(2). pp 137-44. – Darting – Lamb capture – Drive Net: Mongolian horsemen, motorcycles, Russian vans, lots of Earthwatch volunteers, Mongolian researchers and students Argali & Siberian Ibex project • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Collars placed on Argali sheep adults and lambs and Siberian Ibex adults Argali & Siberian Ibex project • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • At the end of the 2014 capture season: •Captured 12 adult argali (5♂: 7♀) and 1 ibex (1♀) in drive nets – Total of >200 Argali captured since 2000 (>70 adults & >130 lambs) – Total of >35 Ibex captured since 2000 (>25 adults & >7 kids) •Collected 868 VHF telemetry locations on argali sheep and 429 VHF telemetry locations on ibex through December 2014. •Since November 2000, have recorded14,754 locations on argali and ibex in Ikh Nart Ikh Nart Nature Reserve • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ikh Nart Nature Reserve • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2012 Ikh Nart Nature Reserve • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2014 Expansion of Ikh Nart boundaries: 1. Telemetry data from Argali & Ibex 2. Nesting sites of Cinereous Vultures 3. Request by local communities to protect surrounding area Conservation Education & Outreach • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Concurrent Argali & Ibex studies • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Behavior studies Causes of predation Dietary overlap of the two species Core zones Overgrazing Health Monitoring & Evaluation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Physiological data • General health status • Fecal parasite burdens • Monitoring during capture restraint Monitoring for Capture Myopathy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Definition (Fowler): syndrome which is likely an inherent mechanism that hastens death, reducing pain in prey – Four syndromes: capture shock, ataxic myoglobinuria, ruptured muscle, delayed- peracute death • How to prevent: decrease stress, limit chase times, work on cooler days, limit handling time • Predictors for potential capture myopathy syndromes: high body temperatures, metabolic acidosis, elevated lactic acidosis, high levels of stress Monitoring for Capture Myopathy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • What we encountered in Argali: – High rectal body temperatures when released from net (Argali >105F) – Lactic acidosis (ave >16mmol/L) – Metabolic acidosis (blood pH <7.2) – Stressed animals – Restraint times <15 min • Should have seen mortalities / morbidity, but……. Monitoring for Capture Myopathy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • We had NO deaths or changes in movement patterns as noted in telemetry data • Observations in previously captured individuals showed more normal temperatures and blood values Physiological Adaptation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Highly cursorial species vs short distance sprinters • Not a recommendation to adjust current practices to limit risk of capture myopathy – Training for volunteers, staff, horseman & herders on motorcycle – Unknown length of time individual animals were actually being herded – Temperature regulation Mongolian Program Achievements • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Several EW scientists and rangers received awards in recognition of their contributions to conservation work in Mongolia: •Gana Wingard received the Distinguished Environmentalist Award from the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Green Development for outstanding contributions to the advancement of conservation in Mongolia; •Rich Reading received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Mongolian Ministry of Science, Education and Culture for outstanding contributions to scientific research in Mongolia; •Rich Reading received the Khubilai Khaan Gold Medal from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences for outstanding contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge in Mongolia; •Rich Reading received an Honorary Ph.D. Degree from the Mongolian State University of Education; •Three of our Rangers received Commendations from the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Green Development for the hard work in protecting Ikh Nart. Next steps • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Continued capacity building within Mongolia – National Laboratory – Training of Mongolian scientists & next generation of conservationists • National Park status? » United Nations Development Program and the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism gave Ikh Nart the highest rating of any protected area they assessed in Mongolia. Thank you • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •.