As it is necessary for participants in this project to be able to communicate in English, this text is provided only in English.
The text of this brochure is developed in cooperation with the project (staff). Annually, under the supervision of the staff the text is updated. Nevertheless you may experience some changes in the field compared to the brochure text. It is inherent to wildlife research programs that during the operations incidentally changes are necessary because of unexpected results, behavior by the wildlife, etc. Be prepared for such changes.
(Last update January 2003)
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
2 ON PRZEWALSKI HORSES - TAKHI
3 The hustai national park project
4 Research
4.1 Habitat Use
4.2 Home range research: the locations of the Takhi
4.3 Behavior of the mares before, during and after birth
4.4 Observations during and after the release of a harem
4.5 Young horses before and after they part with the harem
4.6 Wildlife and Vegetation Research
5 Macne & the przewalski foundation
5.1 The Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment
5.2 The Foundation Reserves Przewalski Horse
6 How you can help
6.1 Activities and possibilities
7 Travel information
7.1 Dates
7.2 Capacity
7.3 Prices
7.4 Included in the price
7.5 Not included in the price
7.6 Accommodation
7.7 Meals
7.8 Traveling to Mongolia: by air or by train
7.9 Additional hotels
7.10 Transfer to the project site
7.11 Insurance
7.12 Passport and visa
7.13 Conditions for participation
7.14 Climate
7.15 Health / medical
7.16 Attainability / emergencies
7.17 Extending your stay in Mongolia
8 Code of conduct
9 Advise on travel equipment
10 Literature
10.1 Mongolia
10.2 Ecology
10.3 Hustain Nuruu Nature Reserve National Park& Przewalski horses
10.4 Bird watching
11 SOME USEFUL MONGOLIAN WORDS AND PHRASES
1 INTRODUCTION
Przewalski horses have become extinct in the wild only recently, in the second half of the twentieth century. Happily, some horses did survive (in zoos).After careful preparation and breeding the reintroduction of the Przewalski horses (was implemented) in the nineties in several Mongolian nature reserves. Up till now, only the reintroduction in the Hustai National Park seems to have been successful.
In Mongolia, in the Hustai National Park, there is a unique project for ecovolunteers who are interested in fieldwork with wild horses. The main objective of the project is to reintroduce Przewalski horses in the park and to protect the biological diversity of the Mongolian steppe-ecosystem and the implementation of social-economic programs.
By 1990's, several harems of horses have already been released in the park after being kept under semi-wild conditions in acclimatization areas. The released harems are monitored to make sure they adjust to their new environment and to gain a better insight in their behavior as there is very little known about wild Przewalski horses.
With the results of the research, the project hopes to build up successfully a self-sustaining viable population of the Przewalski horse on the Mongolian steppe.
Ecovolunteers are invited to participate in this project. It is an exciting opportunity to live and work near these fascinating animals, and to learn more about the unique biological diversity and the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Mongols.
If you are 18 years or older, speak the English language and are able to work without assistance, you can support this project by applying as an ecovolunteer. You can help, for instance, with tracking down the harems and collecting data on their whereabouts and behavior. Besides takhi research, also involvement in other research work on wildlife and vegetation is useful for the biologists in Hustain Nuruu.
2 ON PRZEWALSKI HORSES - TAKHI
The Przewalski Horse (Equus przewalskii Poliakov) or Takhi as the Mongolians name them is rather small, sturdy animal with a short, strong neck. They are sand-colored all over except for a dark stripe running along the spine into the dark colored tail, covered by light deckchairs. The nose is cream-colored and the legs show zebra stripes. Their erect manes and tail are dark brown. Prehistoric drawings in caves in France and Spain show that primitive humans hunted these horses over 20,000 years ago. The earliest written reports on Przewalski horses date from the ninth century and in 1226 a herd of Przewalski horses is said to have caused Chingis Khan to fall off his horse. For millennia these horses roamed the steppes of Europe and Asia.
The increasing human population drove the Przewalski horse to remote areas and eventually they where forced of the steppe into the Zuungariin Gobi-desert in Southwest Mongolia. The harsh living conditions in the desert reduced the changes of survival and when nomads with their domestic horses, camels, and sheep also inhabited the desert, the number of Przewalski horses decreased dramatically. The intensive hunting of Przewalski horses by the Kazachs was the final blow. The last Takhi was seen in 1969 near Gun Tamga.
In the beginning of this century several hunting trips were undertaken to catch live Przewalski horses for private collections. As it proved very difficult to catch adult animals, these hunting parties focused on the foals. To catch the foals many stallions and mares were killed and a large part of the young animals that were caught died during transport. During several successful hunting trips in 1901-1903 54 foals were caught, of which several arrived in Hamburg alive. In the studbook today are about 1510 horses mentioned, originating from 13 founder bloodlines all from the mare foals caught during these expeditions. Because of this and because of unwise breeding-strategies the captive population became victim of inbreeding. It was mainly manifested in decrease of life expectancy and fertility. In 1950's, the German zoologist Erna Mohr started a studbook of the Przewalski horses. Now, the Dutch Foundation Reserves Przewalski Horse, founded in 1977, keeps a detailed database on all individual captive Przewalski horses that have ever lived. With these information systems responsible breeding became possible. Another problem that had to be overcome was an unintended 'domestication' of the horses. Although Przewalski horses are known to be untamable, the decades of captive living conditions did affect the animals. Before they can be released in the wild again the horses have to learn all kinds of basic skills. Foals that are born under semi-natural conditions with as little human interference as possible have fewer problems to adjust to a new life in the wild. It is exciting to notice that the reintroduced Takhi adjust very well to their natural environment. First in encounters with wolves the adult horses surrounded the young ones and finally drove off the wolves. However, wolves increase in number and become cleverer in their hunting techniques and manage to kill takhis occasionally. This happened some time in the summer of 1998 and made the ecovolunteers present upset. However incidents like these are inherent to a naturally functioning ecosystem and ecovolunteers might be prepared for such unpleasant confrontations with nature.
Also, successful takhi reproduction has occurred on the steppe and that is another indication for successful adaptation.
3 THE HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK PROJECT
The steppe zone in Mongolia is located in between the forest zone / taiga in the north and the desert zone in the south, with two intermediary zones in between: the forest-steppe and the semi-desert, each with its own characteristic species.
The steppe (steppe, prairie, savanna, and pampas) originally made up over a quarter of all natural vegetation area on earth. But very little of this area is left, most of it is cultivated for agricultural use. Steppe is a drought-resistant, treeless area with grassy vegetation in semi-arid areas and with annual precipitation in between 300 and 500 mm. In Mongolia grass-species belonging to Festuca and Stipa are dominant, but the steppe does offer very specific growth forms with adaptations to the dry climate. In spring / summer common beautiful, brightly colored flowers like Iris, Pulsatilla, Gentian, Valerian, Delphinium, Aconitum, Lilium, Edelweiss and Yellow Poppy etc. show, but this beauty dries out quickly in the summer.
The Hustai National Park (hustai is Mongolian for birch) measures about 50,000 hectares, and is located about 100-km southwest from the capital Ulaanbaatar.
In the north, the low mountain range that runs from northeast to southwest blends into a sloping steppe with some agricultural areas. In the south the park adjoins the valley of Tuul River. The central part of the park, the core area, is the most important and undisturbed area of the park. Here most of the wildlife is found, including the Takhi. The altitude of the core area varies from 1,300 meters above sea level near the central building to 1,842 meters at Hustai Mountain, the highest top of the mountain range. The landscape still shows several characteristics of volcanic origin of the park. Wind and frost eroded the high mountains and formed sloping hills with huge granite rocks.
The steppe itself is mainly covered with grass, but in the deep eroded gullies elm-trees, cotoneasters and Amygdalus or Dwarf Almond-bushes are found. On the north slopes there are some extensive birch and poplar forests.
The steppe-fauna does show very characteristic species among insects, reptiles as well as birds and mammals. In the Hustai National Park, 140 species of birds have been registered including the Demoiselle crane, Black stork, Mongolian lark, Horned lark, Wheatears, Redstarts, Finches and many birds of prey like Cinereous vulture, Lammergeier, Golden eagle, Steppe eagle, Black kite, Rough legged buzzard, Saker falcon, Long eared owl and Northern eagle owl.
The wild ungulates occur mainly at altitudes above 1500 meters, where the livestock pressure is low. The Hustai National Park was used by nomad herders for grazing livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, horses), roughly estimated at 15.000 cattle of horse equivalents, but the intensity of domestic grazing is quickly diminishing. About fifty-five nomad families and their cattle retreated out of the park and live mainly in the buffer zone, and normally are not to be found in the 50.000 ha research area.
The wild ungulates concentrate in the woodlands for shelter, water, wallows and browse. Deer browsing is heavily on e.g. Populus and Cotoneaster.
Also, in Hustai, there are over three hundred Mongolian Red Deer, or Maral, of impressive proportions. Their two dimensional crown in the antler reaches up to fourteen kilograms that they closely resemble the American Wapiti. There are about fifty Siberian Roe Deer, in the Hustai National Park that has bigger body and antler measurements compared to the European Roe Deer. Other ungulates that might be observed are about fifty to hundred wild boars and with luck also Mongolian gazelle and Argali Sheep. Big horned wild sheep the impressive Argali or Altai sheep is a wild sheep related to the European Mouflon but with much stronger dimensions: over fifty centimeters higher shoulder height, 70 tot 90 centimeters longer over head and body. It is the biggest sheep in the world. Smaller, but often visible and attractive mammals are the cute Bobak Marmots, Suslik, the Tolai Hare, Long-tailed Hamsters, the Steppe Fox and Red Fox, and also rare, less visible mammals as the Badger, Steppe Pole Cat, and big predators as the Lynx. The Wolf is increasing in number and is seen almost every day and heard in the cold winter nights. But flagship species for the Hustai National Park is the reintroduced Przewalski horse.
4 RESEARCH
The Dutch Foundation Reserves Przewalski Horse (FRPH) and the (Mongolian Association for the Conservation of Nature and the Environment (MACNE)) execute the Hustai National Park Project. The project joins together two different yet very closely related projects: the reintroduction of the Przewalski horse on the Mongolian steppe and the Biodiversity Project. The main objectives of the project are:
1) Protect and restore the biological diversity of the steppe area of Hustain Nuruu.
2) Increase conservation awareness in the local communities, using the Przewalski horse as a flagship species.
3) Develop a research and management framework for a successful establishment of a biodiversity park.
4) Provide on-the-job training for the park staff and provide infrastructure.
The Hustai National Park is the only place in the world where wild Przewalski horse harems can be studied. The research is very important to establish a management program for the park and to attain a successful reintroduction of the Przewalski horse. It is, for instance very important to determine the number of horses and other herbivores that can live inside the park (carrying capacity) before actually introducing large herds of Takhi.
The research program focuses on:
4.1 Home range research: the locations of the Takhi
The home range of the harem is the area where they find their food, water, and shelter. Every day Rangers on horseback check on the released harems and the harems in the acclimatization areas. The locations of the released harems and information on the weather and the behavior of the Takhi are registered on a map. With this information the sizes and the borders of the home ranges can be determined. When the minimum size of a home range is known, the Takhi-capacity together with other large herbivores of the Hustai National Park can be determined.
Observations: usually in the morning; 1/2 a morning. The observation trips are made on foot brought to the harem by jeep together with a Mongolian Ranger.
4.2 Behavior of the mares before, during and after birth
The behavior of mares just previous to giving birth is very difficult to observe as the foals are usually born in the very early morning or late in the evening. Only a few births have been actually seen up till now. It is important to study the behavior of the mares before, during and after birth to see whether there are problems within the harem in relation to the mother and foal. Sometimes it might be necessary to intervene during or after birth.
Observations: from sunrise till dawn; 1/2 a morning or afternoon
4.3 Young horses before and after they part with the harem
As soon as the foals are about two or three years of age they leave the harem, either voluntary either by force. The stallion will drive his three-year old sons from the harem as soon as they show any interest in the mares and his daughters will leave the harem at two years of age when they reach sexual maturity. This way inbreeding is prevented. There is very little known about the behavior of the young Takhi before and after they leave the harem.
Observations: 1/2 a morning or afternoon.
4.4 Wildlife and Vegetation Research
Especially wildlife research requires a lot of fieldwork but also vegetation biologists go into field on regular basis. If needed, the volunteers can be asked to help with the fieldwork. The wildlife research consists of wildlife transects, marmot counts, wolf observations, bird registration, etc. Vegetation research consists of mapping and making inventories, monitoring of changes in vegetation composition and food preference of Takhi.
Observations: a morning or afternoon.
5 MACNE & THE PRZEWALSKI FOUNDATION
5.1 The Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment.
The Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, MACNE, is responsible for nature conservation in the park. MACNE is a non-governmental organization. In mandate for the Ministry of Nature and Environment (MACNE) manages the National Park.
MACNE's activities include among others:
* Fostering the traditional Mongolian ethics of conserving nature and wildlife;
* Focusing public attention on responsible use of land and restoration of natural resources;
* Reintroducing endangered species to their native wilderness habitat;
* Developing ecologically responsible tourism.
5.2 The Foundation Reserves Przewalski Horse
As the Przewalski horses have been kept in captivity zoos and private parks for many generations, introduction into the wild is far from easy for them. The Foundation established since 1980 six semi-reserves in the Netherlands and Germany. In these nature reserves varying in size from 30 ha till 256 ha Przewalski horses are kept in more natural conditions to provide them with an opportunity to run wild again. Offspring of this reservoir of wild horses is sent to Hustai National Park. Some 84 were sent to Mongolia in five transports over a period of last ten years. The Foundation is active in the field of information and awareness raising. She organizes picture exhibitions and publishes her own magazine 'Przewalski Horse' biannually in the English language and four times a year in Dutch. All activities for the Przewalski horses in semi-reserves and the reintroduction program are executed by volunteers and sponsored by the Foundation and private funds. In spite of all its fund-raising activities the Foundation remains dependent on its contributors. It is possible to become a contributor for annually 15 Euro / USD 16,- / BPS 10 and receive the magazine up to date news on the Przewalski horse and the release program.
6 HOW YOU CAN HELP
You are welcome to participate in the project. Much of the research can not be done or not done as intensively as with the help of ecovolunteers. You can participate in the activities mentioned on the previous page.
You should realize that you are participating in an ecovolunteer project, not in an outdoor sports holiday. The needs of the project will decide what has to be done and when it has to be done. During working hours the Mongolian project management supervises you.
Although the spoken language in the project is English you may find difficulties sometimes in the conversations. Be patient and tolerant if the things you say are not immediately understood.
Mongolia is still a country in transition and the Communist system has ended not long ago. Although a typical Asian country, this heritage is still noticeable and makes it a completely different country from what you probably have experienced before. This will lay claim to your ability to adapt to this situation.
You must have a positive attitude towards living and working in a small group of enthusiastic people and take the responsibilities that this way of life holds. Your stay at the project will be rather primitive compared to your way of life at home.
In the park, a team consists of professional conservationists and researchers, most of them assigned to the park by MACNE and the Przewalski Foundation. It is important that you realize that the project is not a professional tourist organization, but a well-organized nature conservation project. You can expect good and friendly super-vision and co-operation from your colleagues. The atmosphere at the project is informal and relaxed and by mutual arrangement many things are possible, but do not expect a well-organized package holiday with lots of activities to be presented to you for your entertainment.
There is a small team of foreign researcher in the park, but this foreign research-presence is annually decreasing. The aim is that Mongolian staff eventually will manage the park and their ecovolunteer project by themselves. Firstly you will be under the accompaniment of the Mongolians, so do not expect a close living with the western researchers. When you have questions, make it your principal guideline to first address the Mongolian staff with your questions and avoid the easy way by going to other westerners. Have the courage to act outside your cultural cocoon - it will be worth it, at the same time supporting the self-confidence and working relations with the Mongolian staff. On other hand, the foreign researchers have their own working program to take care of, and the Mongolian staff members are always present and at your service.
6.1 Activities and possibilities
The team of researchers has put together a three weeks program (excluding your journey) for the ecovolunteers. During a two-day introduction program, the researchers will prepare you for your fieldwork. They will explain the research methods, the objectives of the research, the activities, and the house-rules. You will be introduced to everybody and be shown around the complex (the information center, your accommodation).
Before you actually start with your research activities, you will be presented an introductory program in which you will be given actual information on the project, park and research. You will also be given a tour around the park to get to know the area. Subsequently, research methods will be thoroughly explained and demonstrated. Every Friday there will be an evaluation of the fieldwork together with the whole research unit.
You participate in the before mentioned field research on the Takhi. Your activities will mainly consist of taking long walks and drives to reach the harems when necessary.
To avoid damaging the vegetation and unnecessary eroding of the landscape, the use of the four-wheel-drive is minimized as much as possible. When you are in good physical health and when you bring strong wind-and-waterproof clothes and walking-shoes these distances should not present any problems.
During the research you can enjoy the beautiful nature of the Mongolian steppe. When you participate in this project, you will be surprised how much you can learn about nature by observing very accurately.
7 TRAVEL INFORMATION
7.1 Dates
The best time to visit the project is in the months June, July, August and September. You may indicate your preferred dates of arrival and departure yourself, provided that you allow for a minimum period of participation of three weeks.
It may be possible for you to stay at the project outside the indicated period, subject to approval by project staff.
7.2 Capacity
The project can accommodate four ecovolunteers at a time.
7.3 Prices
As specified on the Ecovolunteer website (www.ecovolunteer.org) or in the national ecovolunteer domains.
7.4 Included in the price
• Accommodation (see below)
• Meals (see below)
• Transfer from Ulaanbaatar to the project site and back (see below)
• Supervision
• Participation in the project in accordance with this brochure
• Advice about personal traveling necessities and literature (see below)
7.5 Not included in the price
• Travel to and from Mongolia / Ulaanbaatar (see below)
• Passport / Visa (see below)
• Travel and cancellation insurance (all participants should carry both; see below)
• Personal expenses like telephone bills, souvenirs, etc.
* Travel to Ulaanbaatar during your stay in Hustai National Park, and hotel in Ulaanbaatar.
7.6 Accommodation
Your stay at the project will be rather primitive and sober. There is an administration office where all research-related office work is done. You will sleep in large, round, traditional Mongolian tents of 6 meters in diameter (gers). Beds, some simple furniture and a wood-stove are available. In your spare time you can watch television or video, or play basketball, volleyball, table tennis, darts, chess or checkers or go on a horse ride.
Horse riding in Mongolia on small Mongolian horses is a different riding technique, as you might know from western countries: some horse riding education in Mongolia might be necessary depending on your experience.
There are real showers and toilets at the project. And you can have a sauna.
7.7 Meals
The meals (two hot meals a day, soup once a day, bread with cheese, jam and ham for breakfast) are cooked on a communal basis and served in a "restaurant" where other guests and visitors are served as well. Usually there will be beef, mutton or chicken, some rice, noodle or potatoes and sometimes vegetables. In summer tomatoes, cucumbers and dairy products are available. The drinking water is obtained from a well that water comes from 83 meters depth. Water is clean to use directly
Elsewhere in Mongolia: all water should be regarded as potentially contaminated, and should be sterilized before use. All milk is not pasteurized and should be boiled. Eat preferably only well cooked fish and meat, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked, fruits should be peeled.
All other food and drinks besides the meals you will have to bring yourself (can be bought in Ulaanbaatar). The project has a small stock of snacks and drinks, which can be purchased.
7.8 Traveling to Mongolia: by air or by train.
Flight connections to Mongolia are still few, but they are more numerous and new connections are added annually. You may want to check the possibilities offered by MIAT, the Mongolian airline (from Berlin, Moscow and Beijing). Other airlines that fly to Mongolia are Aeroflot and Air China. Some lines are served throughout the whole year. In summer, there are additional flights.
You will have to make your own flight arrangements: your booking agent will inform you on the possibilities for flights starting from your country. We advise you not to make reservations before your participation has been confirmed.
Go by train: use the famous Trans-Siberian railway.
Ulaanbaatar is connected via the Trans-Mongolian Railway to China and Buryatia. In Ulan Ude, capital of Buryatia, the Trans-Siberian Railway (leading from Moscow to the Russian Far East, Khabaravosk, Nakhodka etc.) connects to the Trans-Mongolian Railway. There are also 'local trains' between Irkutsk (Arxuud) and Ulaanbaatar which take about 24 hours one way. Similar local trains run between Ulaanbaatar and Beijing.
You may ask your booking agent to inform you on the possibilities starting from your country.
7.9 Additional hotels
Depending on your route to the project, you may need additional hotels between connecting flights in for instance Beijing, Moscow, Seoul or Berlin. Your booking agency may arrange this for you.
Beware: for extended stays on some of these stopover destinations for people with your nationality an additional visa might be required. Your booking agency can inform you on this.
7.10 Transfer to the project site
Someone from the project will pick you up on arrival in Ulaanbaatar and will arrange for your transfer to the project site. To be able to arrange for this free transfer, your booking agent needs to have your travel schedule available at least fourteen days before departure.
7.11 Insurance
You are required to carry both cancellation insurance and a travel insurance that covers at least for all medical-, rescue- and repatriation costs. Your booking agent will inform you on these insurances. The Ecovolunteer Program and the Hustain Nuruu Project and their employees will accept no liabilities that could have been covered by travel insurance or cancellation insurance.
7.12 Passport and visa
To enter Mongolia you may need a valid passport that expires no sooner than six months after you leave again and visitors from most nationalities do need an additional visa. Depending on the connections that you choose to book, you may need an additional transit visa for instance for a stopover in Moscow or Beijing.
You will have to make these arrangements before you leave; your booking agent will inform you on the passport and visa requirements for your nationality, and when necessary will provide you with a letter for visa-support.
7.13 Conditions for participation
This ecovolunteer project is suitable for everyone who has a normal physical health and can walk long distances. There are some conditions for participation:
• speak the English language
• be 18 years or older
• know how to ride on horseback
• be flexible regarding the accommodation
• be a non-vegetarian (as all Mongolian meals contain some kind of meat)
• appreciate or at least be able to stand the silence and the open landscape that surrounds you
7.14 Climate
The Mongolian climate is continental with large differences between minimum and maximum day temperatures, long and cold winters, low humidity, little annual precipitation, and many hours of sunshine a year. The rain season starts the second half of July and lasts until the end of August. However, the total amount of rainfall is usually low.
The mean climatic values of the Hustai National Park are: 2,700 hours of sun, mean temperature of 20oC, mean maximum temperature of 25.6oC, mean minimum temperature of -28.0oC, and mean precipitation of 152.2 mm a year.
The long winter starts quiet abruptly in October and lasts until April when temperatures start to rise as fast as they dropped. In September the first night frost occurs and this lasts until May. The frost reaches a depth of 3.5 meters underground. In shady places on the North Slope the ground (1-7 meters deep) stays frozen during the summer (permafrost).
7.15 Health / medical
Please contact your local Public Health authorities about six weeks before departure for up to date medical advice on traveling to Mongolia, as medical advises on travel to countries may change from time to time.
A specific medical problem for this area that is not always recognized by your local Public Health Authorities is in the presence of ticks in the Hustai National Park and the risk of the transmission of diseases through tick bites. An inoculation against the so-called Lyme disease is necessary: the FSME-inoculation.
These inoculations are not generally available, and your local Public Health Authorities may specially need to order for this inoculation.
Therefore, also check daily for ticks at the project location, and use clothing (closed shoes, long socks, and long trousers) that prevent contact with ticks. However, ticks will crawl onto clothes anyway.
So it is important to check your clothes every day when coming back from the field. The volunteers will get all information about how to handle or prevent ticks, how to deal with snakes, bad weather (thunder), etc. on location.
At the moment that this information is written no obligatory vaccinations are required to enter Mongolia from any country.
However, strongly recommended are inoculations against:
• Cholera
• DTP (Diphtheria, Typhus & Polio)
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A & B
• The above mentioned FSME-inoculation
• Meningitis for people staying longer that one month, as occasional outbreaks of menigococcal meningitis do occur in Mongolia
• Rabies
Additional, screening for tuberculosis before departure and after return from the project is recommended.
Health care facilities for foreigners are limited, and all Mongolian hospitals are short of most medical supplies including basic care items, drugs and spare parts for medical equipment. Doctors and hospitals will require immediate cash payment for health services. You are obliged to carry a health insurance including cover for evacuation to Hong Kong or Japan and to take with them any regular medication. Emergency care is available in the Russian Hospital, though a translator would be essential.
At the Hustain Nuruu center, where you stay most of the time, a Mongolian nurse is present including a medical treatment room and a supply of the most necessary medicines. Also a medical jeep is present in case of emergency.
7.16 Attainability / emergencies
There is no telephone / fax / email at the working location; the project site is rather isolated. You should inform their family and friends at home that you cannot be reached directly. They can leave a message with your booking-agent, but it can take a couple of days before this message reaches you, and again a couple of days before you will be able to send an answer. The booking-agent will contact the MACNE-office in Ulaanbaatar, which keeps in regular contact - but not daily - with the working location.
You should be aware that these messages should be send in the English language, and addressed explicitly to the ecovolunteer at the Hustain National Park.
It is however possible for you to call directly to home from the project location. The project is equipped with a mobile satellite-telephone, which can be used by ecovolunteers. The price for this service is ca. USD 5 per minute (price 2002) .
No calls can be received.
7.17 Extending your stay in Mongolia
In Ulaanbaatar there are some big hotels, more suited for travelers with a not so restricted budget, but also some small hotels for the traveler with a tight budget. More private hotels keep opening with the rise of the private sector.
Round trips are difficult to arrange, and rather expensive. The quality of the roads makes four-wheel drives imperative.
In the countryside, there are ger camps with a complete infrastructure (restaurant gers, shower facilities etc.) and they are quite convenient because they ensure a minimum of reliability for the traveler.
Arranging extended stays in Mongolia is not so difficult, although the number of private tourism enterprises in Mongolia is rising. The cheapest way to arrange some extended stay is to address the MACNE-employees after arrival in Mongolia for arrangements.
The good way to arrange for extended stays on beforehand is through contacting your booking agency or MACNE. 8 CODE OF CONDUCT
When staying with Mongolian people, it is strongly recommended to respect the following minimal rules, regardless how friendly people may appear to you. Other rules for your personal behavior may be explained to you by the team-members after arrival in Mongolia.
1. Never refuse ceremonial offerings of tea even if it is salty, etc.
2. Roll down the sleeves of your shirt/coat no matter which temperature it is. If it is summer and you (and Mongolians) wear a T-shirt, then pretend to roll down your sleeves symbolically when being offered food and drink.
3. Never accept any offering of food, drink etc. with your left hand, but with your right hand. Support, while accepting, with your left hand the elbow of your right arm, to symbolize that the offering is accepted with both hands.
4. If there is only a well, not a river nearby, never abuse it as a bathtub. Water in general and wells in particular are precious in this country.
5. When bringing your own food or drinks never forget to offer it to everybody. Never attempt to munch your biscuits secretly. If you can't resist eating your own biscuits then wait until you are on the road again.
6. Show due respect to the dogs and animals of your host. The dog will only respect you if advised by his master to do so. Mongolian dogs are no pets!
7. In a Mongolian tent, the ger, the males are seated at the left side; females are seated at the right side (as seen from the entrance).
9 ADVISE ON TRAVEL EQUIPMENT
You do not need a special outfit, but you should keep in mind that you are spending much time in the open steppe in a mountainous area. Strong walking shoes with grip soles (for instance soft-walkers) that support the ankles are an absolute must.
As there often is a large change in temperature during the day, it is advised to wear several layers of clothes so you can take off a layer when you are getting warm. It is strongly recommended that you bring waterproof and windproof clothing, as well as clothing suitable for warm summer days.
Below, you will find a list of some items you are recommended to bring with you:
• Valid passport / visa.
• Warm clothing (several layers) - depending on the season.
• Waterproof clothing (especially coat and trousers).
• (Strong), waterproof shoes with grip soles for walking, or
• Rubber boots with grip soles.
• Waterproof gloves, scarf, hat or cap.
• Woolen socks.
• Small rucksack.
• Compass, if desired.
• Binoculars (e.g. 8x50).
• Field guides for bird life, mammals, flora etc. (according to your own interests).
• Camera(s) and film rolls.
• Personal first aid kit.
• (Anti-diarrhea)
• Thermos.
• Good flashlight (with spare batteries).
• Large pocket knife.
• Alarm clock.
• Sunglasses.
• Sunburn lotion.
• Insect repellent (flies can be a nuisance sometimes when doing fieldwork).
When in nature, when in the presence of wildlife, so as to impact their environments as little as possible, please follow the following guideline. Don’t wear brightly colored or high-contrast clothing and rucksack, but do wear subdued, muted or neutral colors, like khaki, tan, beige, green brown, etc. Also don’t use material that cracks when you walk or when you use it. And don’t wear perfume or after-shave lotion, do refrain from smoking and use unscented deodorant. You do not want to pollute the environment of the wildlife with foreign sights, sounds and smells.
Are you a smoker? Cigarette-stubs are waste as well. It may take one to five years for a cigarette filter-stub to decay. Therefore, take for example an empty film-box to put in your stubs. Such boxes can be closed well. You than can empty the box on the appropriate place in a waste-box.
10 LITERATURE
10.1 Mongolia
Bruun, O & O. Odgaard. 1996. Mongolia in Transition. Curzon Press Ltd., Richmond, Surrey, Great Britain. (c) Nordic Institute of Asian Studies.
ISBN 0-7007-0441-8 (ppb); 0-7007-0418-3 (hc). ISSN 0142-6208: vol. 22
of the Studies in Asian Topics.
Dondog, L., S. Lhagva & M. Hasbaatar. 1996. Mongolia, Foreign Investment, Trade and Tourism. Ulaanbaatar. ISBN 7-204-03080-X.
Galsandorj, D. 1994. Mongolia. Edited in England by the author.
Idea & Choise Intellectual Center. 1996. The Mongolian Almanac and Book of Facts. Ulaanbaatar.
Nordby, J. 1993. Mongolia. Oxford, Clio Press.
Schmidt, S. 1995. Mongolia in Transition. The Impact of Privatization on Rural Life. Verlag fur Entwicklungspolitik, Saarbrucken, 1995. ISBN 3-88156-674-0. ISSN 0171-7537: vol. 62 of the Bielefeld Studies on the Sociology of Development.
10.2 Ecology
Finch, C. 1996. Mongolia's Wild Heritage. Biological Diversity, protected areas, and conservation in the land of Chingis Khaan. Mongolia Ministry for Nature and Environment; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) / Global Environment Facility (GEF)-Mongolia Biodiversity Project; WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF). ISBN 0-937321-04-4.
10.3 Hustai National Park & Przewalski horses
Hovens, J.P.M. 1997. Wildlife and Livestock Research in the Hustain Nuruu Reserve November 1995-October 1996. Foundation Reserves Przewalski Horses, Rotterdam.
Hovens, H. 1997. Behavior and ecology of reintroduced Przewalski Horses or Takhi in steppe reserve Hustain Nuruu (Mongolia). Foundation Reserves Przewalski Horses, Rotterdam.
Meij, J. de. 1997. Free Ranging Przewalski Horses & Vegetation Development in the Hustain Nuruu Reserve Project Mongolia. Foundation Reserves Przewalski Horses, Rotterdam.
Wallis de Vries, M.F., N. Manibazar & S. Dugerlkham. 1996. The Vegetation of the forest-steppe region of Hustain Nuruu, Mongolia. Vegetatio, 122: 111-127.
10.4 Bird watching
There is no birding field guide for Mongolia, but the following field guides will do as well:
Flint, V.E., R.L. Boehme, Y.V. Kostin & A.A. Kuznetsov. 1984/1989. A Field Guide to Birds of the USSR. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. ISBN 0.691.02430-8.
Jonsson, L. 1993. Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. (available in several languages).
Knystautas, A. 1993. Collins Guide to the Birds of Russia.
You may consider bringing English magazines and books on steppe-ecology and horses; and leaving these behind when you return home. That way the project may build up a small library that can be of use for Mongolian students and other future ecovolunteers.
11 SOME USEFUL MONGOLIAN WORDS AND PHRASES
Please find below some English words and phrases and their Mongolian equivalents in transliteration, that you might find useful during your stay. Specially when visiting a Mongolian family, or starting a conversation with a ranger because hardly any of the local people speak English. You might consider purchasing a small Mongolian phrasebook to be a very useful investment for this holiday.
Przewalski horse - Takhi
Horse - Mori
Sheep - Honi
Goat - Yamaa
Cow - Uher
How do you do? - Ta sain baina uu?
Hello - Sain baina uu?
Nice to meet you - Tantai uulzsandaa taatai baina
How are you - Ta amar sain uu?
Yes - Tiim / Tegie
No - Ugui
How old are you? - Ta heden nastai ve?
Could you tell me? - Ta helji ogno uu?
What is the time? - Heden tsag bolj baina?
What would you like? - Ta you husch baina
Tea - Tsai
I want some tea - Bi tsai uumaar baina
Coffee - Kofe
Milk - Suu
Mare's milk - Airag
Please write down your name and address - Ta ner hayagaa bichij ogooch
Thank you (very much) - (Mash ih) bayarlaa
You're welcome - Zugeer
Sorry - Uuchlaarai
Town - Suurin
Country side - Hodoo
District - Duureg
Street - Gudamj
Airport - Niseh ongotsny buudal
Plane - Ongots
Hotel - Zochid buudal
Money - Mongo
Father - Aav
Mother - Eej
Sister - Egch
Brother - Ah
Son - Huu
Daughter - Ohin
Parents - Etseg