John Hare

Jane profiled the plight of the highly endangered wild Bactrian camel in Hope for Animals and Their World.  This unique animal is being saved through captive breeding, habitat protection, and the work of passionate advocate John Hare.  Please continue reading for an update on his work.

From John Hare:

In early September I visited Mongolia, to travel with three members from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The WCPF has a Memorandum of Understanding with ZSL for our work in Mongolia. WCPF is working with the Mongolian Ministry for Nature and Environment (MNE), ZSL and the Mongolian Wild Camel NGO on developing a Conservation Strategy for the wild Bactrian camel. The plan was to take them down to the Zakhyn Us Breeding Centre and also to show them the Great Gobi Special Protected Area “A”.

Delayed en route because of bad weather over Mongolia, on my arrival I immediately set off with Bilgee, our Project Director, the ZSL scientists on the 1500 kilometre two day journey from Ulan Bator to the breeding centre. One major concern was to discuss in detail with the two ZSL scientists, Dr. Tim Wacher and Dr. Nick Lindsay, the number camels at the Centre and obtain their advice and agreement based on their extensive knowledge and experience, on a controlled release to a suitable desert site in Mongolia, of several of the camels at the Centre.

They were able to see the situation at first hand and understand the urgency of the situation. An urgency created by the very success of the breeding programme we have established.

On our return we met senior officials at the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and the Environment (MNE), and because the wild Bactrian camel is a Red Book and IUCN listed species and therefore protected in Mongolia by law, we had to obtain the consent of MNE for the release and removal of a bull camel from the Breeding Centre before the onset of winter, the breeding season for the wild Bactrian camel.

As any Conservation Strategy for an endangered species has to be approved by the National Government we also discussed with them, their co-hosting with the WCPF and the Mongolian Wild Camel NGO and ZSL a Workshop, to be attended by national and international stakeholders and the national government officials, to discuss and develop the Mongolian National Wild Bactrian Camel Conservation Strategy. This workshop will take place in 2010 but at the time of writing has not been finalised.

For more information about John’s work, and to learn how you can help the wild Bactrian camel, please visit the Wild Camel Protection Foundation’s website at www.wildcamels.com.