Animals in Mongolia
Przewalski's Horse
Equus ferus przewalskii
The takhi, or Przewalski's horse, is widely named as the national animal of Mongolia, although we found no law that makes it official. Its name means spirit or worthy of worship. It vanished from the wild in the 1960s, returned from zoos in 1992, and now numbers about 1,000 across three sites. In 2023, the country also named the Gobi bear a national pride animal.
View details→Wildlife in Mongolia
Mongolia is the most sparsely populated independent country on Earth, with about 3.5 million people spread over 1,564,116 square kilometers, or roughly two for every square kilometer. Nearly half of them live in Ulaanbaatar, which leaves most of the country to herders and wild animals. The land runs from cold northern forest and the lakes of Khuvsgul, across endless grass steppe, to the Altai mountains in the west and the dry Gobi in the south. Winters are long and bitterly cold, summers short and mild, and most travelers come between June and August, when grass is high and tourist camps are open.
Nomadic herding has shaped life here for centuries, and herders still move sheep, goats, horses, yaks and camels across land they share with wildlife. Harsh winters called dzud can kill livestock by the millions, and the same weather also knocks back wild herds. Mongolia has a long history of protecting land, since Bogd Khan Uul near the capital was set aside in 1778, making it one of the oldest nature reserves in the world. The Uvs Nuur Basin and the Landscapes of Dauria are World Heritage sites, and the 2016 Tost reserve became the first in the country created for snow leopards.
Most visitors start in Ulaanbaatar, then head to Hustai to see wild horses, to the sand dunes and canyons of the Gobi, or north to Khuvsgul. Long drives and ger camps are part of the experience, and animals are often seen from far away across the open land. Wildlife follows these contrasts: bears, wolves and deer in the northern forests, wild horses and antelopes on the steppe, big cats in the mountains, and camels in the desert.
Most Dangerous Animals in Mongolia
For most people in Mongolia, the danger from wildlife is less about personal safety and more about the loss of livestock. Wolves are the main concern for herders. In the Ikh Nart reserve, herders said wolves kill 1 to 4 percent of their animals each year, and a study in the South Gobi put losses to wolves and snow leopards at about US$825 per herder a year, a heavy cost for a family that lives from its animals. Many herders kill wolves in response, and a 2026 study in Bayan Olgii found attitudes toward wolves to be entirely negative.
Bears are the animals most likely to make headlines for attacks on people. In October 2026 a bear killed a man and badly injured a woman on the edge of Ulaanbaatar, and officials reported 754 bear sightings across 11 provinces and the capital that year. In 2019 a man and his son were killed in Selenge province, after which people were allowed to use guns against bears in self defense.
Big cats, wolverines and moose are strong animals, but reports of them hurting people are hard to find, and no national count is easy to locate. Wild boars can also be dangerous when cornered. Venomous snakes are present but small, and the cold keeps them inactive for much of the year, so few people ever meet one.
Top 10 Animals in Mongolia
The best known animals in Mongolia are spread across very different worlds, and most trips only touch one or two. Wild horses are the easiest of the famous animals to see. Hustai National Park, a short drive from Ulaanbaatar, holds more than 400, and they usually come down to water at dawn and dusk, while others roam Khomiin Tal and the Great Gobi B reserve. Saiga, the odd nosed antelopes of the far west, have been recovering fast, and a 2024 survey counted 23,215 after a disease outbreak in 2016 and 2017 killed more than half.
Farther north the forest takes over. Bears, wolves, lynx, moose, large deer and wolverines live in the Khentii mountains and the taiga around Khuvsgul, though thick cover and long distances mean they are seldom seen. Reindeer are the exception, since the Dukha people still herd them in the far north, so visitors can reach them with a long trip on horseback. The most unusual bears of all live in the far south, in Great Gobi A, where Gobi bears survive in desert oases and number about 50.
Snow leopards stay out of sight on the high ridges of the Altai and in the Tost mountains of the Gobi, where a reserve protects about 15 adults. Few visitors see one, and those who do usually come in winter, with trackers and a lot of patience.
Snow Leopard
Panthera uncia
Mongolia holds one of the largest snow leopard populations, in the Altai Mountains of the west, the Gobi Altai and the rocky hills of the south Gobi, often far lower than in the Himalayas. Long term GPS collar studies in the Tost Mountains, now a protected area, revealed huge home ranges. Herding families earn extra income from handicrafts in exchange for protecting the cats and their prey. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Bactrian Camel
Camelus bactrianus
Mongolia has the largest herd of domestic Bactrian camels in the world, about 470,000 in 2022, kept by herding families across the Gobi for milk, wool, meat and transport, and celebrated each March at the Thousand Camel Festival. The country also shares with China the last wild Bactrian camels, a separate species that roams the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area in the southwest, one of the few places on Earth where truly wild camels still live. A breeding center keeps a captive herd of wild camels as a safeguard. IUCN status: Endangered (wild camel).
Yak
Bos grunniens
Mongolia has the world's second largest yak population, kept mostly in the Khangai and Khövsgöl mountains, with smaller herds in the Altai of the far west. Herding families rely on yaks for milk, butter, meat and wool through long, harsh winters, and yaks handle steep, cold ground better than cattle. Yak and cattle crosses are common too. IUCN status: domestic yak not evaluated; wild yak Vulnerable.
Przewalski's Horse
Equus ferus przewalskii
Mongolia is the heart of the takhi's comeback. The last wild Przewalski's horse was seen in the Dzungarian Gobi in 1969, and in 1992 zoo bred horses returned to Hustai National Park and to Takhin Tal in Great Gobi B, with a third site at Khomiin Tal. Hustai now holds the largest wild herd on Earth, and most of the world's free living takhi graze the Mongolian steppe. Its Mongolian name, takhi, is often translated as spirit. IUCN status: Endangered.
Goitered Gazelle
Gazella subgutturosa
Mongolia's Gobi Desert holds the largest population of goitered gazelles in the world, estimated at about 28,500 in a survey published in 2016. They roam its gravel plains, which they share with wild Bactrian camels, while snow leopards live in the nearby mountains. A count in Tost Nature Reserve in 2025 found more gazelles than in 2017, but mines, roads and harsh winters are threats. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
Mongolia has brown bears in the forests of the north, in the Khentii and Khövsgöl mountains, and the Gobi bear, or mazaalai, in the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area. This desert bear survives near a few oases with only about 50 animals and is one of the rarest bears in the world. Mongolia supplies extra food at feeding stations to help it through hard years. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
Mongolia supports one of the largest wolf populations in Asia. Wolves range across the vast steppes, the Gobi Desert edges and the northern forests of the country. They prey on gazelle, argali and domestic livestock, and conflict with nomadic herders is common. Mongolia has no legal protection for wolves and they can be hunted year round. Despite this, the population remains large due to the country's enormous and sparsely populated wilderness areas. The global status is Least Concern.
Stone Marten
Martes foina
In Mongolia, the stone marten lives in the west and south, in the rocky mountains of the Mongolian Altai and the Gobi Altai and in isolated desert ranges. It shelters in rock crevices and hunts pikas, gerbils, voles and birds, and it eats berries and wild fruit whenever it can find them. This is one of the driest and coldest parts of its range, far from the forests where most people picture a marten. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
In Mongolia the Eurasian lynx lives in the taiga forests of the north, near the border with Russia, and in the Altai and Khangai mountains, where it uses rocky slopes and forest edges. It hunts hares, roe deer, marmots and birds. It shares these mountains with snow leopards, wolves and wolverines. Mongolia's vast, thinly populated north gives it a lot of space, though hunting for its fur has been a pressure. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Mongolia's steppes, mountain forests, Gobi semi deserts and river valleys are home to healthy red fox populations. On the open steppe foxes hunt voles, gerbils and pikas, and their thick winter coats protect them through winters that often fall below minus 30 °C. Hunted for centuries for their fur, they remain common across the country, and herders often see them near their camps. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
In Mongolia, the red squirrel inhabits the taiga forests of the north, particularly in the forested zones bordering Russia near the Khövsgöl and Selenge regions. It feeds on conifer seeds, berries, and fungi in this remote boreal landscape. Populations here are far removed from the pressures affecting western Europe, and the species lives relatively undisturbed across the sparse but intact northern forests of the country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Reindeer
Rangifer tarandus
In Mongolia reindeer live in the taiga forests of the far north, near the Russian border in Khövsgöl province. Most are domestic animals herded and ridden by the Dukha, or Tsaatan, one of the last reindeer herding peoples in Asia. Their herds fell below 1,000 in the 2000s and recovered to about 2,600 by 2019. A small wild population is thought to survive in the same mountains, threatened by hunting. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars in Mongolia live mainly in the forested river valleys and taiga of the north, near the Russian border, in regions such as Khentii and Khövsgöl, and in the river forests of the east. Unlike the open steppe, these wooded areas give them cover and food. Wolves are their main predator, and harsh winters with deep snow can kill many. They are hunted for meat by local people. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wolverine
Gulo gulo
In Mongolia, wolverines live in the forested mountains along the northern border with Russia and in the Mongolian Altai in the west, where long winters and deep snow suit them. They are rarely seen and their numbers in the country are not well known. The Mongolian Red List places the species in Least Concern, but warns that more data could move it to a higher threat category. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Moose
Alces alces
In Mongolia, moose live in the taiga of the far north, mainly in the Khövsgöl, Selenge and Khentii regions near the Russian border. This is the southern edge of their range in Asia, and numbers are low. They depend on riverside forests and wetlands in a landscape shared with reindeer herders and predators such as wolves and brown bears. Poaching and fires have cut their numbers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Saiga
Saiga tatarica
Western Mongolia is home to the Mongolian saiga, a smaller, darker form found nowhere else, which lives in the dry basins around Sharga and Mankhan. Its numbers swing sharply with harsh winters, known as dzud, and with disease: a virus caught from sheep and goats killed thousands in 2016 and 2017. A WWF Mongolia survey in late 2024 estimated about 23,000 animals, and herders and rangers help protect them. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Pallas's Cat
Otocolobus manul
Mongolia is the stronghold of the Pallas's cat, which locals call the manul, the name used around the world. It lives across the country's steppes, rocky hills and mountain slopes, hunting pikas and voles and sheltering in old marmot burrows. Much of what scientists know about the species comes from studies on the Mongolian steppe, where herding dogs, eagles and trapping are the main dangers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Mountain Hare
Lepus timidus
In Mongolia the mountain hare lives in the forests and forest steppe of the north, in mountain areas such as the Khentii and around Lake Khövsgöl, where it turns white for the long, cold winter. It avoids the open steppe and deserts of the south, where other hares live. Eurasian lynx, wolves, red foxes and golden eagles hunt it, and it relies on dense woodland and shrubs for cover. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Elk
Cervus canadensis
In Mongolia the elk, often called red deer or maral, lives in the mountain forests of the north, such as the Khentii and Khövsgöl ranges, and in parts of the Altai. Herds feed in forest clearings and river valleys and face gray wolves and brown bears. Since the 1990s, heavy poaching for velvet antlers and other body parts sold to China has made its numbers fall sharply. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Adder
Vipera berus
In Mongolia, the European adder lives in the forested mountains of the north, such as the Khentii, near the eastern end of its range. It favors forest clearings, river valleys and rocky slopes where it can bask during the short summer. Winters here are extremely harsh, so it spends many months hibernating underground. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
Mongolia is one of the four main breeding countries for the steppe eagle, with several thousand pairs on its open grasslands and semi desert plains, mostly away from the forested north. Pairs nest on the ground, on low rocky outcrops or on poles, and feed on ground squirrels, pikas and other small mammals. Each autumn the birds leave on a journey of thousands of kilometers to South Asia and Africa. IUCN status: Endangered.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Mongolia lies at the eastern edge of the griffon vulture's range, and here it is a very rare bird. The few records come from the Altai and Khangai mountains in the west, mostly in summer. It is easy to overlook, since other, far more common vultures share the same skies. Any griffon seen in Mongolia is soaring over open steppe or rocky slopes looking for dead livestock. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
Mongolia's vast steppe, rocky mountains, and river valleys provide ideal habitat for the Eurasian eagle owl. It is found across much of the country, from the Altai and Khangai mountain ranges to drier desert regions in the south. A powerful nocturnal hunter, it targets rodents, hares, and birds. Mongolia's low human population density means large areas of habitat remain undisturbed. It is one of the country's most impressive birds. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Mongolia is one of the most important countries in the world for the saker falcon. The vast steppes and semi desert landscapes of the country provide ideal breeding habitat, and Mongolia holds a significant share of the global breeding population. Ground squirrels, particularly the Mongolian ground squirrel, are a key food source. Illegal trapping for export to the Gulf falconry market has caused severe declines, making Mongolia central to international efforts to protect the species. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
In Mongolia, the white tailed eagle breeds in summer along river valleys and the shores of large lakes, mainly in the north, including the area around Lake Khövsgöl. It shares this vast, sparsely populated landscape with steppe eagles and golden eagles. Poisoning linked to predator control and disturbance near nests are the main concerns for these eagles. In autumn most birds leave for warmer areas farther south. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
Mongolia is part of the common crane's breeding range. Pairs nest in wetlands, lake shores and river valleys of the north and east, including the Selenge and Onon basins and the Darkhad depression, often near demoiselle cranes. In late summer families gather in flocks on the steppe before migrating south to winter in China and India, with thousands crossing the country in long lines each autumn. IUCN status: Least Concern.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Mongolia is part of the white wagtail's breeding range, and two subspecies meet here: the Baikal wagtail in the north and the black backed Amur wagtail in the east. They nest along rivers and lakes and in the gers and buildings of settlements, from the Selenge basin to the valleys of the Khangai. In autumn they leave the cold steppe to winter in southern China and Southeast Asia. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Mongolia's vast open steppes and rocky mountain ranges provide excellent hunting ground for the peregrine falcon. It breeds across the country, nesting on cliff faces in ranges such as the Khangai and Altai mountains. Mongolian falcons have long been tied to the country's deep tradition of falconry, one of the oldest in the world. The species is rated Least Concern and populations remain stable across the region.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Mongolia lies at the eastern edge of the mute swan's breeding range. Scattered pairs nest on lakes across the country during the short summer, raising their cygnets among the reeds, and in autumn the birds fly southeast toward China and Korea to spend the winter. Numbers are small compared with Europe, so a breeding pair on a Mongolian steppe lake is a notable sight for birdwatchers. The species shares these lakes with other swans and geese. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
Mongolia lies at the very eastern edge of the nightingale's breeding range. Small numbers of the central Asian subspecies nest in the west of the country, in thickets along rivers where willows and shrubs offer the dense cover they need. They arrive in late spring and leave by late summer for wintering grounds thousands of kilometers away in East Africa. It is a rare and local bird here, easier to hear than to see. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Mongolia has a large population of golden eagles across the Altai, Khangai and Khentii mountains and the open steppes and deserts. The eagle is central to the culture of the Kazakh people of Bayan Ölgii, in the far west, who train eagles to hunt foxes and hares on horseback and hold a famous Golden Eagle Festival every autumn. Pairs keep the same territory for years and often have several nests. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Mongolia, the Eurasian magpie is found mainly in the north of the country, where river valleys lined with birch and willow trees offer suitable habitat amid a largely open and arid landscape. It is far less common in the Gobi Desert regions to the south. Often seen near settlements and livestock camps, it is a resourceful scavenger. It is also seen around Ulaanbaatar. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus
In Mongolia, the bearded vulture lives in the Altai and Gobi Altai ranges of the west and south and in other high mountains, where it nests on remote cliffs. It feeds on the bones of wild goats and sheep and of the livestock of herder families, which die in large numbers in hard winters. It shares the mountains with snow leopards, golden eagles and griffon vultures. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Mongolia?
Mongolia is home to wild horses, saiga, Bactrian camels, yaks, reindeer, moose, elk, gray wolves, brown bears, snow leopards, Eurasian lynx, Pallas's cats and wolverines. Its birds include golden eagles, saker falcons, cranes and vultures, and European adders are found here too.
What is the national animal of Mongolia?
The takhi, or Przewalski's horse, is the animal most often named as the national animal of Mongolia, although we found no law that makes it official. The saker falcon became the national bird by government decision in 2012, and the Gobi bear was named a national pride animal in 2023.
Are there wild horses in Mongolia?
Yes. Przewalski's horses were brought back from zoos starting in 1992, and about 1,000 now live at Hustai National Park, Great Gobi B and Khomiin Tal. The famous Mongolian horses that herders ride are a different, domestic breed, though many of them also live out on open grassland much of the year.
How many Gobi bears are left in Mongolia?
A 2026 scientific abstract estimates about 51 Gobi bears, and older reports range from about 30 to 45. They live only in the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area, one of the rarest bear populations in the world. Locals call them mazaalai, and they are a desert form of the brown bear.
Are there camels in Mongolia?
Yes. Bactrian camels, the kind with two humps, are a working animal for herders in the Gobi, used for milk, wool and transport. A much rarer wild relative also survives in Great Gobi A, one of only three places left for it, though numbers are hard to pin down because of the size of the reserve.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .