M.Enkhbat: Breeding of 100 beavers in Tuul River will bring benefits

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ooluun@montsame.mn
2018-08-08 17:18:34
A reporting team of the MONTSAME national news agency visited the Beaver Introduction Project Unit in Gachuurt Village in Bayanzurkh district, Ulaanbaatar.
Beaver, one of the largest among rodents, is classified as very rare species with a limited distribution in the Red List of Mongolia. There are about 300 Mongolian wild beavers in Bulgan River, located in Khovd aimag’s Bulgan soum.
The so-called ‘Nature’s engineer’, the beaver, impressively ensures ecological balance of its habitat. Specifically, by building dams, canals and lodges beavers create wetland and improve the humidity and water levels of that area. Furthermore, beavers promote biodiversity by establishing riparian habitat at the interface between land and river, and maintaining it. Researchers view that although relocation and breeding of beaver requires a long time and continuous effort, it can gradually bring benefits at low cost.
Enkhbat: “Tuul River being disrupted in some areas indicates groundwater losses of those areas. Groundwater declination causes the absorption of surface water to the ground. Beaver creates groundwater resources. Since the project commencement we have relocated 40 beavers, including 10 this year in the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. Introduction of 80-100 beavers will provide its benefits"
Under the project, 14 beaver families from the German state of Bavaria and 15 from Russia's Kirov region were brought in 2012 to breed at the unit. In the same year, 8 pairs or 16 beavers were relocated in the Zaany Gol (Elephant’s River) which drains into the east of Terelj River, and since then, regular monitoring and research have been conducted with the administration and rangers of the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area.
M.Enkhbat, Head of the Beaver Introduction Project Unit, expressed his aspiration to expand the green area and make the breeding center a tourism area, raising the number of beavers.

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