PROTECTED AREAS IN BAYAN - ULGII AIMAG

Most of the parks come under the jurisdiction of the Mongol Altai Nuruu Special Protected Area. Environmentalists hope that further sections of Bayan-Olgii will become national parks to preserve the argali sheep, ibex and snow leopard, as well as the important sources of lakes and rivers in the Great Lakes depression in the Uvs and Khovd aimags.
 

• Altai Tavanbogd National Park (636,161 hectares). Takes in Tavanbogd Uul, Mongolia’s highest mountain, and the stunning lakes of Khoton, Khurgan and Dayan. Fauna includes argali sheep, ibex, maral (Asiatic red deer), stone marten, deer, elk, Altai snowcock and eagles.
   
• Khokh Serkh Strictly Pro tected Area (65,920 hectare). A mountainous area on the border with Khovd, which protects argali sheep and ibex.
   
• Siylkhem Nuruu National Park (14,080 hectares). This new park, created in 2000, has two sections, one around Ikh Turgen Uul, the other further east.
   
• Develiin Aral Natural Reserve (10,300 hectares). A remarkable habitat around Develiin Island in the L’san Khooloi and Khovd rivers. Established in 2000, it is home to pheasants, boars and beavers.
   
• Tsambagarav L’ul National Park (110,960 hectares). Established in 2000 to protect glaciers and the snow leopard habitat borders on Khovd.