Wild Camel Protection Foundation The Captive Wild Bactrian Camel Breeding Programme, Mongolia (Update)

THE CAPTIVE WILD BACTRIAN CAMEL BREEDING PROGRAMME, MONGOLIA (UPDATE).

The captive wild Bactrian camel breeding programme established by the WCPF at Zakhyn-Us near Bayan Tooroi north of the Great Gobi Reserve A continues to flourish and four captive calves (three females and one bull calf) have been born this year. In Kenya in 2004, we met Dr Han Jianlin of the International Research and Livestock Institute (IRLI) who has been conducting genetic tests on wild Bactrian camels samples of blood and bone from China and Mongolia. With our knowledge of the requirements for the international Stud book and after discussions with Dr Wacher we have decided to have all the wild Bactrian camels in the captive centre in Zakhyn-Us, Mongolia DNA tested using the Mongolian domestic Bactrian camel as the base DNA reference. We are having three sets of tests done. Dr Han Jianlin, who will be based for part of the year in Beijing. Dr Chris Walzer at the University of Vienna and Dr Glyn Davies of the Zoological Society of London has offered to assist with further testing, possibly in Saudi Arabia. In this way each wild Bactrian camel in the captive camel centre in Zakhyn-Us will have its genetic purity established and DNA identified. This information will be recorded in the international Stud book. The testing should be finalised in 2007.

In addition to Bilgee the project director, there are now two other project staff, the herdsman in charge of the captive herd and the vet. A Mongolian veterinarian has been appointed on a part-time basis to ensure, there is a vet on hand should one of the wild Bactrian camels require attention. It is important to understand the responsibility we have for maintaining and protecting what is the only herd of captive wild Bactrian camels in the world. Bilgee has undertaken extensive public awareness programmes among local schools and with the local government officials in the administrative centres that surround Zakhyn-Us. He has organised wildlife clubs for children in many of the schools that he visited. His reports are very good and he is extremely enthusiastic about his work and the future of the project.