In the vast, rugged landscapes of Mongolia, an extreme winter has taken a devastating toll on livestock, with more than two million animals perishing due to harsh weather conditions. Government officials reported on Monday that the severe cold and heavy snowfall have led to widespread starvation and exhaustion among the animals, crucial to the livelihood of Mongolian herders.
Mongolia, a landlocked nation known for its unforgiving winters, typically experiences bitterly cold temperatures from December to March, with some areas plunging to minus 50 degrees Celsius. However, this winter has proven more severe than usual. The United Nations notes that lower than normal temperatures combined with heavy snowfall have exacerbated the situation, intensifying the disaster known locally as “dzud.”
“As of Monday, 2.1 million head of livestock have died,” stated Gantulga Batsaikhan from the Ministry of Agriculture. This figure represents a significant portion of the nation’s livestock population, which stood at 64.7 million animals—including sheep, goats, horses, and cows—at the end of 2023, according to official statistics.
The dzud is a natural phenomenon characterized by a dry summer followed by a harsh winter, leading to insufficient grazing and the inability of animals to sustain themselves through the cold months. The United Nations has highlighted that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of dzuds in Mongolia.
Over the past decade, Mongolia has endured six dzuds, with the previous winter of 2022 to 2023 resulting in the loss of 4.4 million livestock. This year’s dzud has been particularly severe due to a summer drought that prevented animals from accumulating the necessary fat reserves to survive the winter.
The loss of livestock has far-reaching implications for Mongolia’s economy and the nomadic herding communities that rely on these animals for food, income, and transport. The government, along with international organizations, is working to provide aid and develop strategies to mitigate the impact of such extreme weather events in the future.
As climate change continues to affect global weather patterns, the challenges faced by Mongolia underscore the urgent need for sustainable solutions to protect both people and livestock in vulnerable regions.
Reference(s):
Two million animals dead as extreme winter weather hits Mongolia
cgtn.com
