Russian Academy offers help in conservation of Mazaalai bear

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has reportedly received a proposal from the Russian Academy of Sciences to help in the conservation effort of the Mazaalai Gobi bear.

The Gobi Bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis) is listed as critically endangered by Mongolian Redbook of Endangered Species, the Zoological Society of London, and the IUCN Bear Specialist Group. There are believed to be less than 50 adult Gobi bears, meaning that the animal is alarmingly close to extinction. Although current population is stable and incrementally increasing, conservation attempts need to be ramped up, according to experts.

Mazaalai bears are believed to be critically endangered due to a number of factors including climate change, mining practices, and sometimes illegal hunting. As a result, the Russian Academy of Sciences has proposed implementing a project with the ministry to help in the conservation efforts. If approved, the project will run three to five years.

China has been funding a project to help in the conservation efforts of the Mazaalai with an 11.63 million RMB project.