Snow Leopards of Mongolia - June 2025
Dates: June 22 - July 6, 2025
Leaders: Rafael Galvez & Local Leader
E-bird
Total Species: 167 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
For the simple fact that few people ever travel to Mongolia, this tour was an incomparable adventure! The magnificent landscapes of the Altai and the diverse wildlife of the region are stunning. The colossal scale of Mongolia became truly tangible once we arrived in the Khovd Region, unfolding in waves of mountain taiga and steppe beneath a cobalt expanse known as “The Land of Eternal Blue Skies.”
Mongolia is shrouded in mystery, one of the least densely populated landmasses on the planet and still largely unexplored. Ancient hordes once rode freely across this uninterrupted expanse, bent on conquest, culminating in the rise of Chinggis Khan. It is an insular nation with a strong identity, developing at a pace quite different from what we often expect in the West. Cultural differences are vast and extend far beyond language. To this day, the majority of Mongolians maintain a nomadic, pastoral lifestyle. During this tour, we had the opportunity to stay in traditional ger dwellings and visit remote regions of the country that few people ever reach. Our experiences in ger camps were voted among the favorites of the tour.
We worked with Mongolian ground teams in two different regions, who granted us safe passage to the best wildlife locations, provided meals, and delivered their services with great care and professionalism. We all embarked on this adventure with open hearts and minds, ready for wonderful surprises and memorable experiences.
Relatively few birders visit Mongolia, so we often encounter exciting surprises, and this trip was no exception. We recorded 167 bird species and nearly two dozen mammal species. Highlights were many, but among the most memorable were the many young birds under parental care, including ducklings and cygnets, grebe chicks, and most notably White-naped and Demoiselle Cranes with their young colts. Close encounters with calling Black-billed Capercaillie and Gray Nightjar were particularly enigmatic, while an array of reed-dwelling songbirds—including Bearded Reedling, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, and Paddyfield Warbler—made for a memorable morning along Khar Us Lake. Raptors also captured our attention throughout the tour, from the magnificent Lammergeier and Cinereous Vulture to the ubiquitous Steppe Eagle and Black-eared Kite.
Our base throughout the tour was the Mongolica Hotel on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, to which we returned before and after our visit to western Mongolia. The hotel grounds also provided excellent birding opportunities, producing several species we did not see elsewhere, including Long-tailed Rosefinch, Azure Tit, White-cheeked Starling, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. It was also a good site for Pacific Swifts, various corvids, waterfowl including Ruddy Shelduck, and even Siberian Ibex foraging along the nearby cliffs.
After all members of our group arrived on June 22, we met after breakfast the following morning for an orientation prior to departure. We reached the Terelj resort region by midday, and after lunch we settled into our gers. We then visited the Aryapala Temple grounds in search of birds. As we explored the slopes near the entrance, we had our first of many encounters with singing Pine Buntings, along with a surprising Gray Nightjar that called persistently. Upon returning to camp, some of us birded the adjacent forests and cliffs, finding Hume’s and Arctic Warblers, Greater Whitethroat, Daurian Redstart, and the first of many Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrushes.
On the morning of June 24, we departed for forested regions where we encountered singing Red-flanked Bluetails, Two-barred Warblers, and calling Black-billed Capercaillies. The forest also held Black Woodpecker, Taiga Flycatcher, and Tree Pipit. We then crossed vast, open terrain in a caravan of 4x4 vehicles, traversing undulating steppe corridors and gaining our first real sense of Mongolia’s immense scale. We arrived at Gun Galuut by early afternoon.
At Gun Galuut, we settled into comfortable chalets, and after a hearty lunch, we set out to explore the nature reserve. We spent two days there, exploring slopes, lakes, and wetlands. One of the highlights was observing Demoiselle and White-naped Cranes caring for their young colts—most pairs we observed had two chicks. A particularly memorable moment involved a pair of Demoiselle Cranes detecting our vehicle from a distance and leaving their chicks hidden, then performing exaggerated distraction displays to draw us away from them. It was also especially exciting to find a Siberian Crane, one of the rarest birds on Earth and critically endangered.
On the lakes, we observed a rich diversity of birds, including shorebirds such as Pied Avocet, Spotted Redshank, Eurasian Curlew, Green Sandpiper, and Wood Sandpiper. Other waders included Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, and Gray Heron. Waterfowl included Whooper Swan, Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Red-crested and Common Pochards, Common Goldeneye, and more. Mongolian Larks were common throughout the area, joined by Asian Short-toed and Horned Larks, while Citrine Wagtails added flashes of color.
On our final afternoon at Gun Galuut, we explored slopes where we quickly encountered groups of Argali along the cliffs. At nearby wetlands, Black-tailed Godwits displayed, while waterfowl tended to their young. A pair of Eastern Marsh Harriers was observed working in tandem, repeatedly harassing a standing White-naped Crane. It soon became clear that its mate was nearby, sheltering two chicks from the attacks.
After a morning in Gun Galuut, we returned to the Mongolica Hotel on the night of June 26. The following morning, we took an early flight from Chinggis Khan Airport to Khovd in far northwestern Mongolia. Upon arrival, we were immediately informed that a Snow Leopard was being seen on Jargalant Mountain. Without delay, we set off in our 4x4 vehicles, crossing steppe and beginning a steep ascent through rugged terrain until we reached elevations above 10,000 feet. Local scouts had indeed located a Snow Leopard resting on a distant outcrop across the gorge. It was nearly impossible to see with the naked eye, as the animal blended perfectly with the rocky cliffs, and even through a scope it required patience before its outline gradually emerged. We spent hours observing this elusive cat and were thoroughly rewarded. Meanwhile, birds in the area included Lammergeier, Cinereous Vulture, White-winged Snowfinch, Guldenstadt’s (White-winged) Redstart, and other alpine species.
We spent six days in Khovd, exploring lakes, vast plains, and verdant ravines. We encountered Siberian Ibex, Goitered Gazelle, and multiple sightings of endangered Saiga, including unusually close observations. Other highlights included Brown Accentor, Black Redstart, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, four wheatear species including Desert and Pied, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, and both Siberian and Greater Sand-Plover. Waterbirds included Pallas’s and Mongolian Gulls, and Little, Caspian, and White-winged Terns. Great Crested Grebes were common, and Arctic Loons were found in deeper waters. In the Jargalant and Bumbat regions, we recorded Mongolian Finch, Water Pipit, Chukar, and heard Altai Snowcock repeatedly. At the Valley of Dead Ibex, we had outstanding views of Siberian Ibex and Lammergeier, along with Greenish and Barred Warblers and Gray-necked Bunting. Among the most memorable encounters was the elusive Mongolian Ground-Jay. We concluded our time in Khovd with a performance of traditional Khoomei throat singing, accompanied by instrumental music and a young dancer.
On July 3, we flew from Altai back to Ulaanbaatar and returned to the Mongolica Hotel late that night. The following morning, we traveled to Hustai National Park. Along the way, we encountered a recently plowed field with 45 Steppe Eagles—a remarkable sight. After lunch and rest, we explored the park and found Przewalski’s Horses on the hillsides and Siberian Elk on the ridges. Tarbagan Marmots were abundant. We also found Mongolian Gazelles, including females with young, and briefly observed wolves pursuing gazelles, foreshadowing the following morning’s events.
With the assistance of the head ranger at Hustai, we set out before dawn in search of Gray Wolf. We first heard distant howling in darkness, then observed three elk silhouetted against the growing light. As we scanned the hills, we eventually located two wolves and observed them at length. On the return, we found Daurian Partridges, the final new birds of the tour.
We enjoyed our final dinner on July 5. We were a diverse and enthusiastic group, each having achieved personal goals on this extraordinary journey—for some, seeing all the world’s crane species; for others, observing Saiga, gazelles, and other mammals, including the legendary Snow Leopard; and for most, simply experiencing a country rarely visited—“The Land of Eternal Blue Skies.”
Favorite Experiences Voted by Tour Participants:
The Cranes: Unanimously voted by everyone in some capacity was our experience with four species of cranes in Mongolia. The Demoiselle Cranes and their chicks were voted often, as were the White-naped Crane chicks, and our great views of Common and especially Siberian cranes.
Wolves and Land: The wolves were voted for the excitement of the search for them during our final morning at Gun Galuut, escorted by the impressive game warden and anti-poacher at the park. The elusive moment when some of us saw wolves chasing gazelles the prior afternoon was also mentioned. The landscape captivated us, including the grand mountains and variety of habitats, the steppe filled with flowers and the scent of sage, and the diversity found in unusual locations such as the Valley of Dead Ibex.
Snow Leopard, Przewalski’s Horse, and the Ger Experience: Our Snow Leopard experience in Jargalant Mountain was memorable, whether seeing the actual leopard, or climbing up the Altai mountains and being in its alpine realm. The Przewalski’s Horse was beautiful to see in the rolling hills of Hustai—a perfect setting. The Ger Experience got many votes, for how interesting it was to live in a round and portable habitation, for its durability and history, and for its ornamentations.
Lammergeier, Siberian Ibex, Throat Singing, and our Group: The Lammergeier flew past us several times, and we even managed to see one perched! The Siberian Ibex were fun to see, particularly those that looked down on us with curiosity from cliff ledges. The Throat Singers who visited us were exceptional and gave us a cultural program you could not experience anywhere else in the world. Many mentioned how wonderful our group was, participants, guides, and interpreters.
Cinereous Vulture and Raptors: The regal Cinereous Vulture was one of the most common raptors, at times resting close by with its feathered shawl waving in the breeze, or flying quite low. Several other raptors were also mentioned, particularly the Steppe Eagle, of which we saw many, and also the Himalayan Griffon, Upland Buzzard, and Amur Falcon.
Sixth place was a tie: Mongolian Ground-Jay (and Marti running to see one), White-winged Snowfinch, Chukar (and chicks), Azure Tit, Saiga, Tarbagan Marmot, the Ovoo Shrines, and the domestic Bactrian Camels and Yaks.
Honorable mentions included Desert Wheatear, Daurian Partridge, Altai Snowcock, Black-billed Capercaillie, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Argali, Corsac Fox, Daurian Pika, the young traditional dancer, and others.
Day-by-Day Summary
June 22 – Arrivals. All members of our group arrived at the Chinggis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar and were transferred to the Mongolica Hotel outside the capital.
June 23 – We all had breakfast at the Mongolica Hotel and met for an orientation. We departed towards Terelj by midmorning, arriving at noon, where we had lunch and settled into our gers. In the afternoon, we visited the Aryapala Temple grounds, where we birded for a couple of hours. Dinner and the night spent at Terelj Lodge.
June 24 – We left Terelj early and made a couple of stops at forests near Erdene, where we spent the morning birding. We then drove through the steppe, arriving at the Steppe Nomads Camp in Gun Galuut in the early afternoon. That afternoon, we went birding within the protected area. We spent the night at Gun Galuut.
June 25 – We spent the entire day birding within Gun Galuut, including the lakes, foothills, and wetlands of the natural reserve.
June 26 – After our final morning exploring the river and lakes at Gun Galuut, we began our return towards the capital. We stopped briefly at the enormous Chinggis Khan statue and arrived at the Mongolica Hotel by afternoon. We spent the night at the Mongolica Hotel.
June 27 – We left early morning towards the airport for a domestic flight to the western Mongolia region of Khovd. Once in the settlement of Khovd, we stopped for birding at a plantation. We soon learned that a Snow Leopard had been found up in the mountains, so we set out across the steppe, with lunch on the go. We continued climbing up the slopes of Jargalant, reaching 10,000 ft. asl. The Snow Leopard was waiting for us, resting alongside boulders on a cliff’s edge, and we all got lengthy views of the mysterious feline. Afterwards, we arrived at our ger camp and settled in for the night.
June 28 and 29 – During both of these days, we explored lakes and wetlands in the Khovd region, having pleasant picnic lunches outdoors, prepared by our Mongolian crew. We dedicated June 29 to exploring the enormous Khar Us Lake, finding many birds along its vast shorelines.
June 30 – We returned to Jargalant Mountain this day, taking our time to make several stops for birds as we climbed up the ravines towards the summit. Once at the top, we looked for high-altitude species. We spent another night at the ger camp in Khovd.
July 1 – We set out this morning towards Durgun Lake, a vast saltwater lake bordering the Gobi Desert. We traversed extensive flat plains where we found Saiga. By the reeds along the shoreline we found many bird species. We returned to the camp in the afternoon and settled in for the night.
July 2 – After some time spent in Jargalant, we visited the Valley of Dead Ibex, near Bumbat. Along the narrow valleys surrounded by cliff walls, we found many new birds, Siberian Ibex, and a perched Lammergeier. We were back at the camp by late afternoon, and after dinner, enjoyed a performance of traditional Khoomei throat singing by two expert musicians from Khovd. We spent our final night in Khovd at the ger camp.
July 3 – We left the camp, driving across vast stretches of open road towards Altai City for a flight that evening. We arrived in the afternoon for an early dinner, after which we headed to the airport. We spent the night back at the Mongolica Hotel.
July 4 – After plenty of rest, we left late that morning towards Hustai National Park. We made a few stops for birds before settling in at the park’s ger camp, and for some lunch. That afternoon, we explored the rolling hills of the park, finding Przewalski’s Horses, Wapiti, and Mongolian Gazelles. That night was spent at the ger camp at Hustai.
July 5 – We set out to explore Hustai before breakfast for a successful search for Gray Wolves. After lunch, we returned towards Mongolica Hotel for some final birding along the grounds of the hotel. We had our final dinner that night and said our goodbyes.
July 6 – Most participants were transferred throughout the day to the airport for departures, although a couple of members of our group left on July 7.
Wildlife Seen:
BIRDS:
Ducks, Geese and Waterfowl (Anatidae)
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)
Graylag Goose (Anser anser)
Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides)
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) (Anas crecca crecca)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Common Merganser (Goosander) (Mergus merganser)
Pheasants, Grouse and Allies (Phasianidae)
Black-billed Capercaillie (Tetrao urogalloides)
Daurian Partridge (Perdix dauurica)
Altai Snowcock (Tetraogallus altaicus)
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Horned (Slavonian) Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Eared (Black-necked) Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
Hill Pigeon (Columba rupestris)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae)
Pallas’s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus)
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
Nightjars and Allies (Caprimulgidae)
Gray Nightjar (Caprimulgus jotaka)
Swifts (Apodidae)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus)
Rails, Gallinules and Coots (Rallidae)
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Cranes (Gruidae)
Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides virgo)
Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus)
White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio)
Common Crane (Grus grus)
Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae)
Little Ringed Plover (Thinornis dubius)
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Siberian Sand-Plover (Anarhynchus mongolus)
Greater Sand-Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultia)
Kentish Plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus)
Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Common Redshank (Tringa tetanus)
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Gulls, Terns and Skimmers (Laridae)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
Pallas's (Great Black-headed) Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
Mongolian Gull (Larus mongolicus)
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Loons (Gaviidae)
Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica)
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Hawks, Eagles and Kites (Accipitridae)
(Lammergeier) Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus).
Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
Black (Black-eared) Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius)
Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus)
Owls (Strigidae)
Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo)
Hoopoes (Upupidae)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor)
Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae)
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
(Steppe) Great Gray Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris)
Crows, Jays and Magpies (Corvidae)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
Mongolian Ground-Jay (Podoces hendersoni)
Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Daurian Jackdaw (Corvus dauuricus)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Tits, Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae)
Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
Azure Tit (Cyanistes cyanus)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Larks (Alaudidae)
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
(Brandt’s) Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris brandti)
Mongolian Short-toed Lark (Calandrella dukhunensis)
Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica)
Asian Short-toed Lark (Alaudala cheleensis)
Bearded Reedling (Panuridae)
Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus)
Reed Warblers and Allies (Acrocephalidae)
Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola)
Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Grassbirds and Allies (Locustellidae)
Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata)
Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
Swallows (Hirundinidae)
Bank Swallow (Sand Martin) (Riparia riparia)
Eurasian Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Western House-Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Siberian House-Martin (Delichon lagopodum)
Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae)
Hume's Warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
Common (Siberian) Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita tristis)
Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides)
Two-barred Warbler (Phylloscopus plumeitarsus)
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)
Sylviids (Sylviidae)
Barred Warbler (Curruca nisoria)
Greater Whitethroat (Curruca communis)
Nuthatches (Sittidae)
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Starlings (Sturnidae)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus)
Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus)
Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla)
White-winged (Guldenstadt’s) Redstart (Phoenicurus erythrogastrus)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush (Monticola saxatilis)
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)
Accentors (Prunellidae)
Brown Accentor (Prunella fulvescens)
Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia)
White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis)
Pere David's Snowfinch (Montifringilla davidiana)
Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae)
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi)
Blyth's Pipit (Anthus godlewskii)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta blakistoni)
Finches, Euphonias and Allies (Fringillidae)
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
Long-tailed Rosefinch (Carpodacus sibiricus)
Mongolian Finch (Bucanetes mongolicus)
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
Old World Buntings (Emberizidae)
Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides)
Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos)
Gray-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani)
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
Pallas's Bunting (Emberiza pallasi)
MAMMALS:
Dogs (Canidae)
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Corsac Fox (Vulpes corsac)
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Cats (Felidae)
Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)
Horses (Equidae)
Przewalski's Horse (Equus przewalskii)
Deer (Cervidae)
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)
Altai Wapiti (Siberian Elk) (Cervus canadensis sibirica)
Cattle, Sheep, Antelopes (Bovidae)
Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa)
Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa)
Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica)
Argali (Ovis ammon)
Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica)
Squirrels (Sciuridae)
Tarbagan Marmot (Marmota sibirica)
Long-tailed Suslik (Spermophilus undulatus)
Red-cheeked Suslik (Spermophilus erythrogenys)
Gerbils (Gerbillidae)
Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculcatus)
Pikas (Ochotonidae)
Daurian Pika (Ochotona daurica)
Pallas’s Pika (Ochotona pallasi)
Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae)
Tolai Hare (Lepus tolai)
Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus)
Domestic Animals of note
Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)
Domestic Yak (Bos grunniens)
REPTILES:
Toad-headed Agama (Phrynocephalus versicolor)
BUTTERFLIES:
Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
Hungarian Glider (Neptis rivularis)
Maculinea Blue species (Gun Galuut)