The reindeer population in Mongolia rose to 2,636 head at the end of 2019, up by 240 from a year ago.

There were more than 2,000 reindeers in Mongolia during the 1970s. However, the number plummeted to 926 at the end of 2007 as reindeer herders had to butcher and sell their animals for lack of sustainable incomes, bringing the herds – and a way of life – to the brink of extinction.

The Mongolian government has taken measures to improve the herders’ living standards by promoting tourism, bringing the number of reindeers back to 2,000 in 2016. Since then, the reindeer population has been growing continuously.

The only place for reindeers and their herders is Khuvsgul Province, which is located in the north of Mongolia. It is a land of forested mountains, shamans, the Tsaatan reindeer herding tribe and the ‘pearl of Mongolia’ – Lake Khuvsgul. Every summer a reindeer festival is held in this beautiful land, to promote the unique reindeer culture of and protect the animals.

Mongolian reindeer herders only live in Khuvsgul province where around 90 families keep the animals.