IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Murdoch, J.D.; Munkhzul, T.; Sillero-Zubiri, C. | |
| Do Nature Reserves Adequately Protect Pallas' Cats in Central Mongolia | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Nature reserves represent an important component of the protected area system in Mongolia. Their effectiveness, however, at conserving wildlife - especially carnivores, many species of which face declines from illegal hunting - remains largely unknown. We examined the effectiveness of a nature reserve in central Mongolia at protecting the Pallas' cat or manul (_Otocolobus manul_) - an IUCN Near Threatened species that ranges across the grasslands of Mongolia. We evaluated how well the reserve 1) reduces cat poaching by obtaining hunting information from herder families living in and around the reserve, and 2) protects cat habitats by tracking radio-collared cats and comparing habitats selected with habitats protected in the reserve. Interviews with families indicated that illegal hunting occurs commonly, wildlife laws are seldom enforced, and ranger activities provide little deterrent to poachers. Pallas' cats used a variety of steppe habitats during the study, favouring semi-shrub steppe, which is under-represented in the reserve's core protected area. Our results indicate that the reserve fails to reduce poaching or adequately protect cat habitats. Reducing poaching, however, may be accomplished by greater ranger training and community education. A simple, cost-effective modification of the reserve's core boundary would also protect key cat habitats. |
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