Dear Supporter,

Captive Wild Bactrian Breeding Programme, Mongolia –  Genetic testing

As mentioned in Newsletter 16, Dr Pamela  Burger and Katja Silbermayr  from the Institute of Animal Breeding and  Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria have obtained  funding to undertake genetic and DNA research on the wild Bactrian camel   This was organised by  Dr Chris Walzer, formerly the director of Salzburg  Zoo, who is now the Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarian at the Research Institute of  Wildlife Ecology,  University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. Dr Walzer  is also the Research Co-ordinator for the International Takhi (Prejwalksy wild horse) Group which is  working in the Great Gobi "B" Strictly Protected Area at Takhin Tal,  Mongolia.

Kate Rae and I visited the  Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics at the University of Veterinary  Medicine in August 2006. We spent two days there meeting with Dr Walzer, Dr  Burger, Katja Silbermayr  and Professor Schwarzenberg to discuss the  implications of DNA testing and genetic research; the establishment of an  International Studbook for the captive herd of wild Bactrian camels; and the  micro-chipping of the captive wild Bactrian camels. We also discussed the  Breeding Centre at Zakhyn Us and possible ways of expanding the work there. We  arranged for Dr Burger and Katja Silbermayr to contact  Dr Han Jianlin  and Dr Olivier Hanotte at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in  Nairobi Kenya who have been carrying out DNA testing on the wild Bactrian  camel in China. 
We invited Dr Burger and  Katja to visit the Breeding Centre at Zakhyn Us and suggested they  travel there with us and, if possible to try and attend the UNDP/WCPF  International Camel October Workshop on the protection of the wild Bactrian  camel in China and Mongolia. This would give them an opportunity to take  blood, hair and faecal samples when visiting the Zakhyn Us Captive Wild Bactrian  Camel Breeding Centre in Mongolia and microchip the captive wild Bactrian  camels,

2006 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT  OF THE WILD BACTRIAN CAMEL
Kate Rae and I travelled to Mongolia to attend the  International Workshop on 12-14 October, 2006 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The  Workshop was co funded by the WCPF and the United Nations Development  Progamme (UNDP). Before the workshop, we went with Pam Burger and Katja  Silbermayr to visit the Captive Wild Camel Breeding Programme at Zakhyn Us. At  Zakhyn Us the two scientists took blood samples from the domestic Bactrians and  Katja was able to go into the Gobi ‘A’ Reserve with staff from the Reserve  Headquarters to collect wild Bactrian camel hair and faeces samples. 

Organisers of the  International Workshop

• Ministry of Nature and  Environment (MNE)
• Park Administration of  the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area "A"  (Park Administration)
• UNDP/GEF Medium Sized Project (MSP)  "Conservation of the Great Gobi and its Umbrella  Species Project" (Great Gobi Project)
• Wild Camel  Protection Foundation (WCPF)
• Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of  Sciences (IB,  MAS)

Aims of the International  Workshop: 
One of the main  goals of this workshop was to develop a long term Action Plan  for wild Bactrian camel conservation and management by sharing knowledge and  experiences on both national and international levels.
The workshop  was also required to update the status of the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area  "A" Management Plan (that covers overall activities of research, monitoring, law  enforcement, patrolling and public awareness) which was approved by the  Mongolian Ministry of Nature and the Environment in January 2006. This  Management Plan will be for the period 2006-2012.
Scientific surveys and  research in both China and Mongolia have recorded the main threats to wild  Bactrian camels as habitat degradation, predator pressure, human activities and  crossbreeding with domestic Bactrian camels. The section of the Management Plan  that relates to wild Bactrian camel research, monitoring, conservation and  management can be used as one source for developing a conservation plan for  the wild Bactrian camel in both China and Mongolia. The habitat area required by  the wild Bactrian camel is large and as this habitat is also endangered it  is possible to consider the wild Bactrian camel as an ‘umbrella’ species i.e. an  endangered species which when it and it desert ecosystem are  protected  afford protection also to a wide range of other endangered fauna and  flora.

The Letter of Intent  that resulted from the International Workshop on the wild Bactrian camel in  August 2000 in Beijing, stated that China and Mongolia would cooperate on wild  Bactrian camel protection and research. The wild Bactrian camel is listed in the  Red Book of Endangered Species in both countries, however, in addition to  protection in National Nature Reserves and Protected Areas, as a migrating  species it should be protected when crossing the international border between  China and  Mongolia.

The  International  Workshop in Mongolia in October 2006 enabled Chinese  and Mongolian scientists to meet for the first time to discuss important  cross-boundary issues and to share common experiences, data and scientific  research on wild Bactrian camel protection. Four Chinese delegates came from  Xinjiang Province, including the Director from the Lop Nur Wild Camel  National Nature Reserve and six from Gansu Province. All the Nature  Reserves in China where the wild Bactrian camel is protected sent a  representative to the Workshop.
The Workshop  Agenda  outlines the wide range of topics  covered.

Workshop Agenda 12  October  - Wild Camel Status in Mongolia 

• Keynote address: The Wild  Camel - Mongolia (B. Mijiddorj, Director at the Park Administration,  GGSPA)
• Population structure, size, density (Yad. Adiya, IB  and G. Dovchindorj, Park Administration)    
• Behaviour, reproduction, recruitment (Yad. Adiya IB and G.  Dovchindorj, Park Administration)    
• Wolf seasonal diet (IB Ranger-based  umbrella species monitoring (Ranger and border patrol representatives, and Park  research officer)
• How to catch elusive  camels – experiences with winter captures. (WCPF Breeding Centre, Project  Director)
• Preliminary screening on endo and  ectoparasites and diseases (Institute of Veterinary Medicine)
• Genetics (WCPF, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology at the  University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, Captive Wild Camel Breeding  Centre)
• Vegetation (Institute of Botany)
• International border issues with China and Exchange of data and  research with China

Wild Camel Status in China

• Keynote address: The Wild Camel China (Chinese delegate)

Population structure, size, density;  behaviour, reproduction

• Construction  of fresh water points
• Wild camel  monitoring (Lop Nur Wild Camel National Natural Reserve)
• Preliminary screening on endo and ectoparasites and diseases 
• Genetics
• Vegetation  (Institute of Botany, Lop Nur)
• International border  issues with Mongolia/ Exchange of data and research with Mongolia
• Status of Mazongshan Reserve, Gansu
• Threats to the wild Bactrian camel within the LNWCNR. Response to  threats

13 October
Wild Camel Conservation and Management Issues 

• Captive wild camel breeding program in Bayan  Tooroi  (WCPF)
• Status of DNA work on the  captive wild Bactrian camels (WCPF)
• Restoration  and rehabilitation on natural water sources in the Park (Park Administration,  Oyunbadrakh Co. Ltd)
• Survey on possible  hybrids between wild and domestic camels in Buffer Zone and legal aspects for  umbrella species protection and crossbreeding issues with domestic camels as a  case study
• Activities related to wild Bactrian  camel conservation and management in the newly approved Park Management Plan

Great Gobi Project

• Community  level activities and initiatives (environmental clubs, information centres,  pressed fuel production, saxaul consumption, public awareness) (Great Gobi  Project)
• Pasture mapping in Edren ridge (University of  Agriculture)
• Panel Discussion on Best Practice for Wild  Camel Management
• Continuation of  Discussion on Best Practice for Wild Camel Management
• Discussion section for developing Umbrella Species Action Plan  (working groups)

i) Population Assessment and Monitoring
ii) Human  dimensions and management options
iii) Discuss options for long term funding  and sustainability of the Action Plan

14 October

• Wrap up previous days activities
• Continuation of discussion for developing Umbrella Species Action  Plan
• Presentation by working groups 
• Summary and Statement of Management options for drafting Action  Plan

FINAL STATEMENT FROM THE WORKSHOP
The International  Workshop on "Conservation and Management of the Wild  Bactrian  Camel", Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia,
12-14 October 2006 has, as  a result of the papers given and the conclusions reached by the three working  groups, agreed the following  Recommendations, where joint cooperation  between wild Bactrian camel Protected  Areas in China and Mongolia should  take place. 
1. An investigation into the carrying capacity of wild  Bactrian camels in  Protected Areas in both China  and Mongolia using  an Ecosystem  approach .
2. An investigation into wolf predation in  Protected Areas in  China and Mongolia.
3. The establishment of a  trans-boundary International Protected Area including ecological corridors to  protect the routes of the migrating wild Bactrian  camels.
4. Research into the  migration routes of wild Bactrian camels between  China and Mongolia. 
5. The effect of human influence and illegal human activities: grazing,  hunting, resource extraction and mining within Chinese and Mongolian  Protected  Areas, including the Buffer Zones. 
6. To research the  genetic status, hybridization/cross breeding between  domestic and wild  Bactrian camels and their management in China and Mongolia.
7. To research  the reproductive processes, physiology and behaviour of  wild Bactrian  camels in China  and Mongolia.
8. To research into diseases of wild  Bactrian camels and wildlife and  domestic interface in China  and  Mongolia.
9. Strengthening Protected Areas management capacity in   China and Mongolia.  
10. To research the effects of climate  change in the Protected Areas in  China and Mongolia.
11. To evaluate  ecotourism in Protected Areas in China and Mongolia .
12. The establishment  of communication links for exchanging data between China and Mongolia, this  communication to be  implemented by nominating positions and a time  table for the exchange of  information on a regular basis.
13. The  development of environmental public awareness in Protected Areas in  China  and Mongolia.
14. The resolution of resettlement issues in Protected Areas  in  China and Mongolia.
15. The enforcement of existing environmental  laws and regulations for  Protected Areas in China and  Mongolia. 

The Conference requests China and Mongolia to further  strengthen co-operation to resolve all issues relating to the protection of  the wild  Bactrian camel as an umbrella species in their Protected  Areas.  
The conference requests the organisers of this  workshop, using this final  statement and the conclusions of the three  working groups, to identify and  attempt to secure long term funding  sources for the sustainability of wild Bactrian camel Protected Areas in China  and Mongolia.

Organizers:
UNDP/GEF funded  and Ministry of Nature and Environment of Mongolia  implemented MSP
"Conservation of the Great  Gobi Ecosystem and Its Umbrella Species  Project"
*    Wild Camel Protection Foundation
Ministry of Nature and Environment of Mongolia
*   Park Administration Great Gobi  Strictly Protected Area  "A"
*    Institute of  Biology, Mongolian  Academy of  Sciences
*    Xinjiang Uighur  Autonomous Region  Government
*    Xinjiang Environmental Protection Bureau
*    Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature  Reserve 
*    Gansu  Annanba Wild Camel National Nature  Reserve
*    Gansu  Mazongshan Nature Reserve 
*    Gansu  Dunhuang Xihu National Nature  Reserve
*    Lanzhou  University,   Gansu

MANAGEMENT PLAN AND INTERNATIONAL STUD BOOK

Co-operation with the Zoological Society of London  (ZSL)

Dr Glyn Davies, the Director of Conservation at ZSL has agreed to assist the WCPF with the establishment of an International Stud Book for the wild Bactrian camel based on our captive herd at Zakhyn Us. The ZSL will provide us with the relevant software to enable us to do this. He has also agreed to assist us with drawing up a Management Plan for Zakhyn Us. This, we feel is a priority as various issues have arisen such as:

• As the numbers increase is to be done with surplus young males  and also at a later stage females?
• Whether we consider  a controlled release programme of wild Bactrian camels into areas in the  Special Protected Area in    Mongolia, areas which are far  away from the Breeding Centre? 
• When releasing should the wild Bactrian camels be collared?
• How to rest the area within the fenced area, where the camels graze during the winter months, which is also the mating season?
• Whether we should fence off a second area and rotate the captive wild Bactrian animals between the two areas?
• How to manage and monitor contact with domestic animals, camels, as there is always the risk of disease and pathogen transfer between the wild Bactrian camels and the domestic animals.
• Develop and implement sampling Protocols for disease and worms.

These are the types of  questions that we need to address in a properly prepared Management Plan. Kate  Rae and I are meeting Richard Kock of the ZSL, who is the Programme Manager for  the Deserts and Rangelands Programme for Mongolia on 5th December to  discuss the Management Plan and the International Stud  Book.

PUBLIC AWARENESS

Children and the Gobi
With UNDP, WCPF undertook a joint public awareness work  in Mongolia with 6 school nature conservation clubs of the 6 buffer zone  sums of Great Gobi A. During this work, we recorded the programme which we were  doing with the Gobi school children. A thirty minute film was made from this  project in the Gobi and it was broadcast as the "Children and the Gobi" on  Mongolian national television this month.    

SPONSORSHIP: CAPTIVE WILD BACTRIAN CAMELS
First of all thank you  to all the Nine members and supporters who have already generously sponsored a  young wild Bactrian camel. We now have pictures of the young camel calves on our  updated Website. However, to  continue to protect the captive wild Bactrian camels and manage the  pasture areas and water, we must have our herdsman and his assistants there on  site at all times to oversee the camels' welfare. During the winter and spring  months it is  necessary to buy hay for them. This is expensive to buy and  also to transport  to the site. Medicines are required for the females and  their offspring during  the first five years. As the number of camels  increases each year, we have additional costs of identifying and fencing new  areas for pasture; and the Project Director, Bilgee works continuously with  the local communities and schools to ensure they understand our work.
The good news is the success of the  Project so far, however this also means more pregnant females. As a result  we urgently require at least five  more sponsors as a number of the female wild Bactrian camels are pregnant. 

TALKS
I am always giving talks to both raise  awareness of the plight of the wild Bactrian camel and funds for the work of the  Foundation. As we do not have a permanent sponsor for the annual cost of running  the Breeding Centre in Mongolia we are constantly fund raising.  We are  always interested in hearing of ideas and suggestions from members about  possible fund raising activities.   
The talk to the Directors of Exxon on 8 September and the  event at the RGS on September 4th  with Ranulph Fiennes, John   Blashford-Snell and myself under the heading ‘Expeditions, What’s the   Point?’ with Libby Purves in the chair, both went very well. Substantial funds  were raised at the RGS talk for the Transglobe Expedition Trust which kindly  sponsored my 2005 camel expedition to the Chinese Gobi. It was on this trip that  we discovered the potassium cyanide at Kum Su spring.

• On 13  February 2007 at 6.30pm I will be speaking at Asia House, Asia House, 63 New  Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP Tel: 020 7307-5454
  Fax: 020 7307-5459 www.asiahouse.org. Tickets will be priced at £7.00
  The  talk will be called The Mysteries of the Gobiand will  encompass two expeditions made on camels to search for the wild camel in the  Gobi desert. It will include details of our discovery of an outpost called Tu  Ying of the ancient city of Lou Lan on the middle silk road. Photographs and  details of 1500 BC mummies that were found near the site, and the discovery of  84 drums of poisonous potassium cyanide that had been brought into the desert by  illegal miners in their search for gold. In the process they had wiped out the  'naive' population of wildlife.

• At the British Museum  on 16 February 2007 at  6.30 pm the WCPF will be showing  the highly acclaimed  film, The Weeping Camel.  The WCPF has been given permission by the distributor’s to show this film anywhere in Britain – royalty free. I will be speaking briefly  about the wild Bactrian camel in China and Mongolia and work the WCPF is doing  there. The film relates how a Mongolian herder family persuades a female camel  to suckle its calf after it had rejected it. It is a moving film and if members  in the London area have not seen it, then I encourage them to  attend. It will be shown at 6.30 pm and admission is  free.

WEBSITE CHANGES
We have updated the _www.wildcamels.com_ (http://www.wildcamels.com)   website and now have a Shop Page showing items which can be purchased to support  the work of the Foundation. Payment can now be made by Paypal; UK/Euro/USDCheque  or bank transfer. Details are on the website.
We are also planning to keep updating the Shop Page  especially when we have a range of knitted camel items made from wild  Bactrian camel hair knitted by our herdsman’s wife.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Most  members have  renewed their annual membership for 2005/2006, but if you  haven't,  please send £15 (or its equivalent in foreign currency). If you are   paying in US dollars or Euros you can also transfer funds direct into  the  WCPF’s Euro or US dollar accounts. Please email us and ask for the  bank  transfer details.

EMAIL ADDRESS
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Thank you  once again for all your generous and highly valued support.

Yours  faithfully,