The Government yesterday fixed this year’s quota of wild animals that can be hunted by tourists or for special purposes. Minister for Nature, Environment and Tourism L.Gansukh gives more details in answer to our reporter’s questions.

What is this year’s quota?
The Government decided that 50 mountain sheep can be killed for special purposes, while tourists will be allowed to hunt 120 wild goats, 5 deer, 150 antelope, 40 wolves, 20 pigs and 400 birds. Besides these, 2 bears and 4 panthers can be caught for research, and two herds of wild horses can be caught under the herd structure regulations.
We reduced the quota for animals but raised that for fishes and birds as their numbers have increased.

How much money would the state earn from hunting fees? What is the population of the species that can be hunted?
Altogether MNT7.2 billion in hunting fees has accrued to local and state budgets since 2006.

Mongolia now has 17,000 mountain sheep, 24,000 wild goats, 10,000 deer, 12,000 goitered gazelle, 5 million antelope, 1,200 panthers and 6,000 falcons.

What is the policy of the Ministry on foreigners catching fish in increasing numbers in recent years?
The number they are allowed to catch is fixed beforehand and many species, especially taimen, have to be returned to the water. Our law on rare fishes, passed last year, does not allow them to be taken out of the country.  

How do you ensure that the fish are returned to the water?
The companies that take the tourists monitor the catch and Customs officials at the border check what is being taken away. Some tourists previously took back the heads of fish they had caught but this is no longer allowed.