THROUGH THE EYE OF THE DESERT TO CAPTURE AND COLLAR WILD BACTRIAN CAMELS (Camelus ferus)

摘要

The range of the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) has been reduced to only three locations world wide: two in China (Lop Nuur and Taklamakan desert) and one in Mongolia (Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area [SPA] "A"). The population is listed by IUCN as critically endangered. To better understand the movement patterns and habitat needs of wild camels in southern Mongolia several expeditions were undertaken to the Great Gobi SPA "A." between 2005 and 2007. Using a chase method, where camels are darted from a moving jeep, 8 camels were chemically captured using a combination of etorphine-butorphanol-detomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam. In 7 of the camels darted, anesthesia and subsequent recovery was smooth and without complication and these animalswere outfitted with satellite radio-collars. However, one camel died during anesthesia of undetermined cause. Extremely low ambient temperatures in the winter season and dry, hot and windy summer conditions greatly hampered fieldwork.