Veterinarians
from Russia and the Czech Republic joined their Mongolian colleagues and others
at a conference in Umnugobi on October 22-23, organized jointly by the
Governor’s Office and the Mongol Bactrian Society. The local participants were
camel herders, and representatives
of factories making camel wool products,
and NGOs of Umnugobi, Dundgobi, Dornogobi, Uvurkhangai, Bayankhongor and
Gobi-Altai aimags .
More than 40% of the
world’s two-humped camels are found in Mongolia. Their number dwindled from
895,300 in 1954 to 253,000 in 2002 but has
started growing again. Of the 277,100 camels counted at the end of 2009,
Umnugobi had 85,700, Bayankhongor 29,700, Gobi-Altai 26,700, Dornogobi 26,100
and Dundgobi 20,700.
The conference discussed conservation measures, improving the gene pool, production of camel milk and wool
products, and use of camels in tourism and sports. The herders talked about
their problems and were offered various solutions and suggestions. The social aspects of promoting camel growth,
pasture land irrigation, and pasture land recovery in areas of mining activity were
also discussed.
A museum of camels was opened during the conference, camel wool products were
on display, and camel racing and camel polo organized.
