From Hovd Travel in Mongolia
Mankhan Natural Reserve
The Mankhan Natural Reserve is located entirely within Mankhan soum, about 70 km southeast of Hovd City on the main road between Hovd City and Ulaanbaatar. Officially known as the "Sharga Mankhan Natural Reserve", the reserve was established in 1996 to protect the Mongolian Saiga. The reserve is also a bird sanctuary, and is often visited in tandem with the Tsenkheriin Agui Cave Paintings. A park fee of 1,000T per person applies, and an additional fee for 3,000T per vehicle.
The Saiga Tatarica Mongolica antelope in the Mankhan Natural Reserve is one of two sub-species of Saiga; the other is the Saiga Tatarica Tatarica, and is distributed in Russia and elsewhere in Central Asia. The population of the Mongolian saiga decreased dramatically between 1980 and 2003, with only about 1,500-2,500 animals occupying less than 1/5 of its historical terrain. The main threats confronting the Mongolian Saiga are habitat competition with livestock, poaching, and frequent extreme national conditions (severe winters and droughts).
Natural Reserves were developed in Mongolia with the following aims:
- 1) Preserve natural landscapes as standard samples.
- 2) Preserve gene pools of animals and plants characteristic of the given landscape and geographical region.
- 3) Study natural objects for scientific and practical purposes.
- 4) Protect natural attractions of the given territory.
- 5) Protect historical and cultural monuments.
