Association Goviin Khulan

The Association GOVIIN KHULAN* is a French non-profit organization co-founded in November 2007 by Anne-Camille Souris (ethologist, studying Mongolian wild Equids behavioral ecology and behavior since 2003, member of the SSC/IUCN Equid Specialist Group, Chairwoman, project and research Director of the Association GOVIIN KHULAN). First and only NGO in Mongolia sorely dedicated to conservation of the endangered Mongolian Khulan / Mongolian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus hemionus) in Mongolia. 

**"Goviin khulan" means in Mongolian: The Mongolian wild ass of the Gobi, Khulan being the mongolian name for Mongolian wild ass. 

Scientific research - We conduct research, and partner with other scientific teams on several aspects on biodiversity and ecology of the Mongolian khulan and other Gobi wildlife. 

Capacity building - We provide professional training to protected areas' staff and rangers we cooperate with in order to enhance their knowledge and skills about ecology and biodiversity conservation as well as about research methods. We are planning to develop a specific curriculum for protected areas that will contain on-site, in-the-field and online training and knowledge assessment activities. We also provide training and support to some Mongolian locals (herders, Buddhist monks...) to help them act as "citizen scientists" as they live in our study area all year round and depend on a healthy ecosystem to survive. They can also provide an invaluable contribution to the long-term success of wildlife and habitat protection. 

Local culture and traditions in support to biodiversity conservation - We work with Buddhist monks from our study area to reinforce links between Mongolian culture and traditions with conservation of the Mongolian khulan and the Gobi ecosystem. 

Environmental education - We conduct conservation education activities in the Gobi Desert to inform, engage and empower the local community - with a specific emphasis to children - in wildlife and ecosystems protection. We produce exclusive educational resources such as educational brochures, monitoring brochures, cartoons and children's books in collaboration with local artists and designers. 

Ecotourism and citizen science expeditions to lead to conservation tourism - We organize, in partnership with locally based and international travel agencies, wildlife observation, ecotourism and citizen science expeditions in our study area and other areas of Mongolia, during which travellers can: observe a high variety of wildlife, be involved in some of our research and conservation activities and meet with our local scientific assistants and members of our study area's local community. 

Our study area is located in the south and southeast Gobi, especially the southeast of the Ömnögobi province (aimag) and the south of the Dornogobi aimag (*aimag = province).

In the Gobi region, water is a critical resource for livestock, humans and wildlife, but is very rare and very scarce. The availability of water, mostly in the form of springs, lakes, seeks, is highly variable and depends on local rainfall patterns.

1. Ergelyn Zoo natural reserve

2. Suikhent natural monument

3. Small Gobi A and B protected areas with which we cooperate since 2008. 

 Our partners