Illegal wildlife hunting is on the rise in Mongolia – threatening several key species. Mongolia has listed 26 animals in the endangered species list  such as the Saiga antelope, the Asian wild dog, whooper swan, the snow leopard, Mazaalai or Gobi bear, and reindeer and 38 species of animals which were recognised by the government as being at  risk in 2012.

Foreign nationals, who live in Mongolia, either on a temporary or permanently basis, are allowed to pay a fee for catch fishing for domestic consumption. Recent years have seen an increase in fishing expedition tours – these have, sometimes, been conducted without permission.

Far more serious, however, is the sharp rise in uncontrolled hunting. The deterrent  of steep fines and imprisonment for 1-5 years for those caught hunting illegally simply does not appear to be working. The statistics are, indeed, worrying: according to the Police Department, illegal hunting crimes have risen by 66 percent in 2018 from previous year.