Gobi bears are small compared to most other members of the brown bear family. Female adults weigh only 51‐78 kg and males only 96‐138 kg. Their fur is light brown in color, but with a noticeably darker head, belly and legs. Patches or natural collars of lighter fur is often present on the neck or shoulder of individuals are also a distinguishing characteristic.
Mazaalai is the only desert dwelling bear, living in the Gobi desert of Mongolia. With less than thirty living individuals, the Gobi bear is on the brink of extinction. Past estimates of a population size of 20‐50 Gobi bears were based on direct observations and assessment of Gobi bear use of the three oasis complexes. In 2006, an estimate based on remote cameras at feeding sites indicated that a minimum of 19 bears were present in the area (Amgalan et al. 2006). By 2010, a more statistically‐rigorous estimate was calculated based on genetic fingerprinting of hair collected near feeding sites at springs within the area (Tumendemberel et al. 2010). This estimate indicated that a minimum of 22‐31 (CI = 95%) Gobi bears remain in the wild, including at least 8 females and 14 males. The population fluctuates each year due to the harsh climate and shortage of food and water.
Gobi bears persist as a unique ecotype in the Gobi Desert of southwestern Mongolia. They are superbly adapted to low food availability and harsh environment of the Gobi Desert, where annual temperature may vary between 46°C in summer to ‐34°C in winter. Gobi bears occupy three main areas, or oasis complexes, within the 45,784‐km2 Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (GGSPA, Zone “A”): Atas Bogd Mountain, Shar Khuls Oasis, and Tsagaan Bogd Mountain. Each oasis complex is comprised of seven or more springs of various sizes, separated by about 70‐100 km from the adjacent complex.
Rangers of the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area reported that the area experienced a 14‐year drought from 1993‐2007, in which annual precipitation declined from approximately 100 mm to 50 mm. Because Gobi bears are heavily dependent upon vegetation that requires precipitation for growth and fruiting, the drought may have affected body condition and reproductive success of bears during this period. Gobi bears mainly eat roots, berries, and other plants, sometimes rodents, there were no evidence that they ate large mammals.
Why The Gobi Bear :
- Mazaalai is the only Bear species that lives wild in the desert on the entire Earth
- Mazaalai is the last preserved Bear species that does not live in the zoo in other places
- Mazaalai is the same cute and rare bear species as Panda and Koala who enjoy worldwide care and conservation
- Mazaalai is not only Mongolia’s nature given national gift, but he is a treasure of the worldwide wildlife kingdom
- Mazaalai must be available for our future generations to enjoy & learn about this rare animal
Why they die:
- shortage of food and water in early spring
- disturbance by livestock and people
- accidental traps and kills
- migration for access to water and food
- competition for food and territory with livestock and human activities.
Under the present circumstances of Mongolia’s and worldwide climate changes, Mazaalai faces far more dangers to go extinct than in the previous decades. In this native home, Mongolia, Mazaalai is out of public and private attention. The world does not know this rare bear at all. But every infant and senior citizen in the world see photos and pictures of Pandas and Koalas everyday. There is no Mazaalai in the zoo anywhere.