Chris Walzer FIWI, A Title Room to Roam? The Threat to the Khulan (Equus hemionus) from Human Abstract Mongolia, often called the ³land without fences,² provides the last remaining refuge for a number of migratory species that require large areas of habitat. The Asiatic wild ass (E. Hemionus), or khulan, is one such species. A member of the horse family (Equidae), it has suffered an immense reduction in range and numbers over the last century. The population decline has left dwindling and fragmented populations scattered across Eurasia. One large population remains in the sparsely populated Gobi region of Mongolia. Protecting this population is crucial for the long-term survival of the species. This region also supports a growing human population, including a large number of livestock herders, who maintain a tenuous grip on survival after enduring the political and economic upheaval wrought by the collapse of the socialist command economy. With Mongolia¹s transition to a privatized market economy, more people and exploitative economic activities‹notably mining and road construction‹could further impact environmental security and habitat needs of the khulan and associated wildlife in the region. The overall objectives of this research project are to provide sound science-based data to (a) improve our knowledge of large wild and domestic herbivore ecology, especially khulan ecology; (b) identify conflicts between human and khulan habitat use; and (c) develop management recommendations that would facilitate the protection of important khulan habitat and mitigate khulan-human conflicts, enabling the long-term survival of this species in Mongolia. First results in this study revealed that khulan are highly mobile and cover wide areas. The individuals studied did make use of protected areas, but only as a small fraction of their total range. They are highly sensitive to fragmentation of the landscape‹for example, the Trans-Mongolia railway acts as a barrier that the khulan are unable to cross, despite suitable habitat on the eastern side of the railway. Khulan do not appear to select for a specific habitat type, but rather seem to seek areas of high biomass production. These high-quality foraging areas are usually spatially and temporally variable and result from differences in local rainfall patterns. Initial conclusions from the project clearly demonstrate that Gobi-wide initiatives are needed. A strategy should be prepared for infrastructure development in the Gobi that gives attention to conservation issues, in particular the barrier effect that fences, roads, and open-pit and strip mines can create. Developments should be preceded by a rigorous environmental assessment (EA), and mitigation measures such as migration corridors and wildlife-friendly designs should be used. CV Education: University of Economics, Vienna, Austria; University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna Austria, Mag. med. Vet. 1989; Dr. med. Vet. 1993; Habilitation 2003; Appointments: Univ. Prof., Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Austria, 2005; Zoological co-director, head veterinarian, staff researcher , Zoo Salzburg Austria 1993; Contract veterinarian, Herberstein wild animal park, Austria, 1989; Veterinary practice, Kaindorf, Austria, 1990; Research experience: Chris Walzer has international recognized expertise working with wildlife, especially wild equids and carnivores, gained from combined years of work and study in Mongolia, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has been sought as a consultant in wildlife matters by organizations such as WCS, WWF, IRF, SOS Rhino and several other NGOs and universities. Chris Walzer is a member of the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV), the IUCN Veterinary Specialist Group, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) and the International Takhi Group (ITG); In Mongolia his expertise was sought as a consultant by: (1) Fondation Takh, France Mongolia for the transport of Przewalski¹s horses from France to Khomin Tal, Mongolia in 2004 and 2005 (2) the Worldbank for the ³Impacts of Well Rehabilitation and Human Intrusion on Khulan (Wild Ass) and Other Threatened Species in the Gobi Desert² (2005), (3) UNDP for a Short-term International Expert on Wild camel satellite collaring and monitoring for the ³Conservation of the Great Gobi and Its Umbrella Species² project (2005/2006). Major grants obtained: 2006 - Research Grant of the Austrian Science Foundation (P18624-B17) "Landscape level research for the conservation of the Asiatic wild ass".2001-2003 Research Grant of the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF project: P14992) ³Monitoring of re-introduced Przewalski horses, Asiatic wild ass and wolves in the Gobi B National Park, SW Mongolia². 2001-2003 2 Research Grants of the Jubiläumsfond (Austrian National Bank) for (1) ³The utilization of different plant species by re-introduced Przewaslki¹s horses and other ungulates in the Gobi-B National Park in Mongolia² and (2) ³The potential role of equine piroplasmosis as a limiting factor to population growth in a population of reintroduced Przewalski¹s horses in Mongolia ³, 2000-2003 Partner in research grant by the International Rhino Foundation, SOS Rhino for ³An Integrated Approach for the Enhancement of Reproductive Performance of White Rhinoceroses in the EEP² Institution address Univ. Prof. Dr. med. vet. Chris Walzer Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Savoyenstraße 1 A - 1160 Vienna chris.walzer@vu-wien.ac.at http://www.wildvet.at