The Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa), a keystone species of the world’s largest intact temperate  grasslands, plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of the steppe ecosystem. However, it faces growing threats from habitat fragmentation, competition with livestock, and extreme climatic events. These challenges, compounded by increasing human activities, endanger the species’ long-term survival and the health of its ecosystem.    

Therefore, from June 5 to 25, 2024, The WWF-Mongolia with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Mongolian Academy of Sciences, and the National University of Mongolia have conducted the second population survey of Mongolian gazelles, covering 433,245 km² of Mongolia’s Central and Eastern Steppe. This follow-up survey aimed to compare population estimates with 2020 data, focusing on the impact of the severe winter of 2023–2024. This survey was carried out using the “Distance Sampling” or line-transect methodology.   

The results of survey were released recently. The 2024 population estimate suggests a total of 2,122,700 gazelles, representing a modest increase from the 2020 estimate of 1,991,300. As human activities such as railway construction expand across the steppe, regular monitoring of population trends and distributions becomes increasingly important for effective conservation planning.