Research Summary
Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Dornogobi Aimag, Mongolia — This magnificent region of semi-arid grasslands and rocky outcrops is one of the best hopes for wildlife in central Asia. Argali sheep, lesser kestrels, cinereous vultures, and other animals threatened throughout their range find a stronghold here. Herds of graceful Mongolian gazelles and goitered gazelles roam freely through the reserve. For five years, Earthwatch teams have worked to study and conserve the area’s wildlife, including the threatened argali—the largest mountain sheep in the world with huge, curling horns. Their efforts have been so successful that results from the work have been used to develop active conservation management in a formerly unmanaged reserve, and the research team has expanded their studies to include several other species as well as work in another nature reserve, where some teams may spend a portion of the expedition. You can help Dr Rich Reading and an international team of scientists explore the lives of a broad range of wildlife in this semiarid refuge.
Meet the Scientists
Rich Reading
Denver Zoological Foundation
“On behalf of the Mongolian Wildlife Conservation Project staff, I would like to invite you to join us for a true adventure in Mongolia! You will spend two nights in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, to experience the ancient and fascinating culture of Mongolia, and almost two weeks in the spectacular semi-desert steppe wilderness, free of fences and paved roads. In addition to bright blue skies and spectacular sunsets, you will see argali, ibex, foxes, vultures, eagles, hawks, lizards, and gazelles.” ~ Dr Rich Reading
Dr Richard (Rich) P. Reading is the Director of Conservation Biology at the Denver Zoological Foundation and Associate Research Professor at the University of Denver. He holds a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and three Master’s degrees from Yale University, as well as a B.S. from Trinity College (Hartford) and additional study at the Duke University Marine Laboratory. He has worked in Mongolia since 1994 on a variety of conservation projects. Dr Reading will not be present throughout each expedition.
Ganchimeg Wingard
Wildlife Biologist
Ganchimeg (Ganaa) Wingard is a Research Associate with the Denver Zoological Foundation. She holds two Master’s degrees, one from Prague University in Environmental Science and the most recent (2005) in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Montana, where she studied argali and domestic livestock feeding relationships at Ikh Nart. Although a Mongolian national, Ganaa is a resident of Missoula, Montana and speaks fluent English. She has experience leading ecotours in Mongolia.
Sukh Amgalanbaatar
President, Argali Wildlife Research Center
Sukhiin (Amgaa) Amgalanbaatar is a research biologist with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, President of the Argali Wildlife Research Center, and a Research Associate with the Denver Zoological Foundation. He has been studying the status and ecology of argali since the late 1980s and is currently working on his Ph.D. at the Mongolian National University. Recognized as the leading ecologist on mountain ungulates in Mongolia, Amgaa is the project’s field manager. He speaks good English.