Petra Kaczensky

• Esmaeili, Saeideh; Hemami, Mahmoud-Reza; Kaczensky, Petra; Schoenecker, Kathryn A.; King, Sarah R.B. & Shahriari, Bahareh [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Rainfall reduces the potential for competitive suppression of a globally endangered ungulate by livestock. Biological Conservation. ISSN 0006-3207. 292. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110476.
• Rezvani, Azita; Hemami, Mahmoud-Reza; Goheen, Jacob R.; Kaczensky, Petra; Pourmanafi, Saeid & Fakheran, Sima [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Rethinking connectivity modeling for high-mobility ungulates: insights from a globally endangered equid. Landscape Ecology. ISSN 0921-2973. 39(3). doi: 10.1007/s10980-024-01873-5.
• Kaczensky, Petra; Ganbaatar, Oyunsaikhan; Nandintsetseg, Dejid & Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar (2023). The Gobi Khulan - A Flagship Species for Mobility. Acta Mongolica. ISSN 2074-1014. 21(541), p. 147–163. Show summary

  Khulan, the Asiatic wild ass, have been eradicated from most of their former range. The Mongolian Gobi currently holds more than 80% of the global population and constitutes more than 70% of the global breeding range and therefore is the most important stronghold of the species. In the Mongolian Gobi, individual khulan roam over thousands of square kilometers annually and their movements are among the largest reported for terrestrial mammals globally. The high mobility of khulan plays a critical role for the ecosystem functioning of the Mongolian Gobi, including large-scale seed dispersal and provision of water holes for other wildlife. Khulan also have non-consumptive aesthetic and naturalistic values for local residents and harbor the potential for wildlife tourism and subsistence hunting.The species is currently listed as Near Threatened in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, but remains under close scrutiny because multiple developments which negatively impact the size, quality and functional connectivity of the Gobi–Eastern Steppe ecosystem are happening simultaneously and at an unprecedented speed in an ecosystem which so far has remained at a near natural stage. These developments are the: 1) dramatic increase in livestock numbers and a change in the traditional herding practice, 2) rapid development of the resource extraction sector, and 3) expansion and upgrading of the transport infrastructure to meet the needs of the mining sector and allow Mongolia to connect to international markets.The paper explores how these threats may affect khulan in the future and why khulan are an ideal flagship species for mobility and landscape connectivity.

• Michler, Lena M.; Kaczensky, Petra; Oyunsaikhan, Ganbaatar; Bartzke, Gundula; Devineau, Olivier & Treydte, Anna C (2023). To move or not to move—factors influencing small-scale herder and livestock movements in the Dzungarian Gobi, Mongolia. Regional Environmental Change. ISSN 1436-3798. 23. doi: 10.1007/s10113-023-02126-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In Mongolia, where nomadic pastoralism is still practiced by around one-third of the population, increasing livestock numbers, socio-economic constraints and climate change raise concerns over rangeland health. Little empirical evidence explains what triggers camp moves of pastoralists in the Dzungarian Gobi in Mongolia, which factors influence grazing mobility around camps, and how altitudinal migration benefits small livestock. We combined GPS tracking data of 19 small livestock herds monitored from September 2018 to April 2020 with remotely sensed climate and environmental data. We used general linear-mixed models to analyse variables influencing camp use duration and daily mobility patterns. To understand the importance of the altitudinal migration, we compared climatic conditions along the elevation gradient and looked at seasonal body weight changes of small livestock. We found that available plant biomass and season best explained camp use duration. Daily walking distance and maximum distance from camp increased with camp use duration. Pasture time increased with increasing biomass and rising temperatures. We conclude that herders in the Dzungarian Gobi have optimized pasture use by reacting to changes in biomass availability at landscape and local scale, and by embracing altitudinal migration. Flexibility in grazing mobility seems to have enabled local herder communities to practise sustainable pasture use. Maintaining this mobility will most likely be the best strategy to deal with environmental change under the current climate change scenarios.

• Tucker, Marlee A.; Schipper, Aafke M.; Adams, Tempe S.F.; Attias, Nina; Avgar, Tal & Babic, Natarscha L. [Show all 82 contributors for this article] (2023). Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns. Science. ISSN 0036-8075. 380(6649), p. 1059–1064. doi: 10.1126/science.abo6499. Full text in Research Archive
• Rosen, Tatjana; Arazmurat, Amanov; Barashkova, Anna; Dieterich, Til; Hojamuradov, Hojamurad & Hudaikuliev, Nurmuhammet [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2022). Protecting the cats of the cold winter deserts in Turkmenistan and western Kazakhstan, Proceedings from the International Cold Winter Desert Conference. Central Asian Desert Initiative 2-3 December 2021, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISSN 978-92-5-136958-6. p. 79–92. Show summary

  The Central Asian grassland, semi-desert and desert ecosystems are incredibly rich in biodiversity because of their location at the interface between different biogeographic areas and different ecological regions. These habitats are still largely continuous and interconnected and are home to wildlife assemblages that rival those of better-known regions like East Africa, with large herds of highly mobile large herbivores, rich communities of rodent herbivores, and many large, medium and small predators including mammals and birds. However, the cold deserts represent a globally unique ecosystem with rather distinctive community assemblages often consisting of both tropical and temperate species. For example, on a broad scale the wild cat community contains up to seven species: namely the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana), caracal (Caracal caracal), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), Pallas cat (Otocolobus manul), Asiatic wild cat (Felis lybica ornata),Jungle cat (Felis chaus), and sand cat (Felis margarita) (Kitchener et a. 2017). Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) was present in the ecoregion but has been extinct for >50 years (persisting today only in Islamic Republic of Iran). Unfortunately, Central Asia is currently an understudied region from the point of view of ecology and biodiversity. This is especially true in the past three decades since the post-Soviet transition. At present there is very little in the way of up-to-date information available on the status and distribution of species that can be used to inform conservation measures, such as better planning of anthropogenic development on the one hand and establishing an effective network of protected areas on the other. This task is becoming increasingly urgent as the whole region is coming under intense anthropogenic pressure from multiple sources (recreational pressures, poaching, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, renewable energy development, border security fencing, water extraction, farming and livestock grazing pressure) in addition to the ever-present specter of climate change. The objective of this communication is to summarise what is known about the status of these iconic wild cat species in Turkmenistan and southwestern Kazakhstan, presenting for the first time the results of camera-trapping and field surveys conducted during the last decade. Based on these preliminary results we present some initial recommendations for conservation actions.

• Xu, Wenxuan; Liu, Wei; Ma, Wei; Wang, Muyang; Xu, Feng & Yang, Weikang [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Current status and future challenges for khulan (Equus hemionus) conservation in China. Global Ecology and Conservation. ISSN 2351-9894. 37. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02156. Full text in Research Archive
• Michler, Lena M.; Kaczensky, Petra; Ploechl, Jane F.; Batsukh, Daginnas; Baumgartner, Sabine A. & Battogtokh, Bayarmaa [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Moving Toward the Greener Side: Environmental Aspects Guiding Pastoral Mobility and Impacting Vegetation in the Dzungarian Gobi, Mongolia. Rangeland Ecology & Management. ISSN 1550-7424. 83, p. 149–160. doi: 10.1016/j.rama.2022.03.006. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Livestock grazing often intensifies around herder camps, which can lead to degradation, particularly in arid areas, where vegetation is scarce. In Mongolia, nomadic herders have covered long distances between camps and changed camps regularly for centuries. However, changing socioeconomics, rising livestock numbers, and climatic change have led to growing concerns over rangeland health. To understand travel mobility and livestock grazing patterns, we combined Global Positioning System tracking data of goats, remotely sensing pasture productivity, and ground-based vegetation characteristics in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area, Mongolia. We assessed herder preferences for camp selection, followed 19 livestock herds over 20 months, determined use and nutrient contents of the most dominant plant communities, and estimated plant species richness, vegetation cover, and biomass within different grazing radii around camps. Biomass availability was key for herder decisions to move camps, but in winter, other factors like shelter from wind were more important. Camps were mainly located in Stipa spp. communities, agreeing with herder preferences for this highly nutritious species, and its dominance around camps. Herders changed their camp locations on average 9 times yearly, with a maximum distance of 70–123 km between summer and winter camps, and an average visitation period of 25–49 d per camp, depending on season. Small livestock spent > 13−17 h daily within a radius of 100 m from camp, and livestock use intensity decreased steeply with distance from camp but was remarkably similar around spring, autumn, and winter camps on the Gobi plains. However, we found little evidence for a corresponding gradient in plant species richness, biomass, and cover on the Gobi plains. The high mobility of local herders and the overriding impact of precipitation on pasture dynamics contribute to a sustainable vegetation offtake by livestock in the nonequilibrium rangelands of the Dzungarian Gobi.

• Broekman, Maarten J. E.; Hilbers, Jelle P.; Huijbregts, Mark A. J.; Mueller, Thomas; Ali, Abdullah H. & Andrén, Henrik [Show all 88 contributors for this article] (2022). Evaluating expert-based habitat suitability information of terrestrial mammals with GPS-tracking data. Global Ecology and Biogeography. ISSN 1466-822X. 31(8), p. 1526–1541. doi: 10.1111/geb.13523. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aim: Macroecological studies that require habitat suitability data for many species often derive this information from expert opinion. However, expert- based informa-tion is inherently subjective and thus prone to errors. The increasing availability of GPS tracking data offers opportunities to evaluate and supplement expert- based in-formation with detailed empirical evidence. Here, we compared expert- based habitat suitability information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with habitat suitability information derived from GPS-tracking data of 1,498 individu-als from 49 mammal species.Location: Worldwide.Time period: 1998–2021.Major taxa studied: Forty- nine terrestrial mammal species.Methods: Using GPS data, we estimated two measures of habitat suitability for each individual animal: proportional habitat use (proportion of GPS locations within a habi-tat type), and selection ratio (habitat use relative to its availability). For each individual we then evaluated whether the GPS- based habitat suitability measures were in agree-ment with the IUCN data. To that end, we calculated the probability that the ranking of empirical habitat suitability measures was in agreement with IUCN's classification into suitable, marginal and unsuitable habitat types.Results: IUCN habitat suitability data were in accordance with the GPS data (> 95% probability of agreement) for 33 out of 49 species based on proportional habitat use estimates and for 25 out of 49 species based on selection ratios. In addition, 37 and 34 species had a > 50% probability of agreement based on proportional habitat use and selection ratios, respectively.Main conclusions: We show how GPS-tracking data can be used to evaluate IUCN habitat suitability data. Our findings indicate that for the majority of species in-cluded in this study, it is appropriate to use IUCN habitat suitability data in macro-ecological studies. Furthermore, we show that GPS-tracking data can be used to identify and prioritize species and habitat types for re-evaluation of IUCN habitat suitability data expert opinion, GPS, habitat suitability, habitat type, habitat use, IUCN, mammals, movement, selection ratio, telemetry

• Kaczensky, Petra; Gantulga, G.; Lkhagvasuren, D.; Boldgiv, B.; Ganbaatar, O. & Altansukh, N. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). First experience with a camera collar in a free-ranging Przewalski’s horse group in the Mongolian Gobi. Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei. ISSN 0440-1298. Show summary

  Remote sensing and satellite telemetry have allowed us to greatly expand our understanding of how species use various the landscapes, even in remote settings. However, remotely collecting data also harbours the risk of losing “touch with the ground”. We explore the possibility of the additional insight cameras integrated in GPS‐satellite collars can provide for the behaviour and ecology of freeranging Przewalski’s horse in the remote Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in south‐eastern Mongolia. Over a 91‐day period the camera collected 1,080 images. 62% of the images showed Przewalski’s horses and provided insights into behavior and grouping patterns and can supplement indirect measures of behavior from acceleration sensors. Other images provided first information on insect harassment and show the potential of images for ground‐truthing environmental conditions, e.g. the occurrence of rainfall. The potential for camera collars as an additional tool to study largebodied ungulates in remote ecosystems seems really promising, although this relatively new technology seems still prone to technical failures. Animal‐borne camera system, Behaviour, Equus ferus przewalskii, social organisation, Gobi Desert, ground truthing, Mongolia, nomadic movements, Przewalski’s horse, remote data collection

• Kauffman, Matthew J.; Aikens, Ellen O.; Esmaeili, Saeideh; Kaczensky, Petra; Middleton, Arthur & Monteith, Kevin L. [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2021). Causes, Consequences, and Conservation of Ungulate Migration. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. ISSN 1543-592X. 52, p. 453–478. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-012021-011516. Show summary

  Our understanding of ungulate migration is advancing rapidly due to innovations in modern animal tracking. Herein, we review and synthesize nearly seven decades of work on migration and other long-distance movements of wild ungulates. Although it has long been appreciated that ungulates migrate to enhance access to forage, recent contributions demonstrate that their movements are fine tuned to dynamic landscapes where forage, snow, and drought change seasonally. Researchers are beginning to understand how ungulates navigate migrations, with the emerging view that animals blend gradient tracking with spatial memory, some of which is socially learned. Although migration often promotes abundant populations—with broad effects on ecosystems—many migrations around the world have been lost or are currently threatened by habitat fragmentation, climate change, and barriers to movement. Fortunately, new efforts that use empirical tracking data to map migrations in detail are facilitating effective conservation measures to maintain ungulate migration. animal tracking, barriers to movement, cultural knowledge, green-wave surfing, phenology, spatial memory, connectivity

• Cretois, Benjamin; Linnell, John Durrus; Van Moorter, Bram; Kaczensky, Petra; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland & Parada, Jorge Sicacha [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Coexistence of large mammals and humans is possible in Europe’s anthropogenic landscapes. iScience. ISSN 2589-0042. 24(9), p. 1–12. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103083. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  A critical question in the conservation of large mammals in the Anthropocene is to know the extent to which they can tolerate human disturbance. Surprisingly, little quantitative data is available about large-scale effects of human activity and land use on their broad scale distribution in Europe. In this study, we quantify the relative importance of human land use and protected areas as opposed to biophysical constraints on large mammal distribution. We analyze data on large mammal distribution to quantify the relative effect of anthropogenic variables on species' distribution as opposed to biophysical constraints. We finally assess the effect of anthropogenic variables on the size of the species' niche by simulating a scenario where we assumed no anthropogenic pressure on the landscape. Results show that large mammal distribution is primarily constrained by biophysical constraints rather than anthropogenic variables. This finding offers grounds for cautious optimism concerning wildlife conservation in the Anthropocene.

• Esmaeili, Saeideh; Jesmer, Brett R.; Albeke, Shannon E.; Aikens, Ellen O.; Schoenecker, Kathryn A. & King, Sarah R. B. [Show all 50 contributors for this article] (2021). Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: A cross-taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis. Ecology Letters. ISSN 1461-023X. 24(10), p. 2178–2191. doi: 10.1111/ele.13848. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that energy intake for ungulates is maximised when forage biomass is at intermediate levels. Nevertheless, metabolic allometry and different digestive systems suggest that resource selection should vary across ungulate species. By combining GPS relocations with remotely sensed data on forage characteristics and surface water, we quantified the effect of body size and digestive system in determining movements of 30 populations of hindgut fermenters (equids) and ruminants across biomes. Selection for intermediate forage biomass was negatively related to body size, regardless of digestive system. Selection for proximity to surface water was stronger for equids relative to ruminants, regardless of body size. To be more generalisable, we suggest that the FMH explicitly incorporate contingencies in body size and digestive system, with small-bodied ruminants selecting more strongly for potential energy intake, and hindgut fermenters selecting more strongly for surface water.

• Kaczensky, Petra; Salemgareyev, Albert; Linnell, John Durrus; Zuther, Steffen; Walzer, Chris & Huber, Nikolaus [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Post-release Movement Behaviour and Survival of Kulan Reintroduced to the Steppes and Deserts of Central Kazakhstan. Frontiers in Conservation Science. 2. doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.703358. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Asiatic wild ass, or kulan (Equus hemionus kulan) were once a key species of the Eurasian steppes and deserts. In Kazakhstan they went extinct by the 1930s. Early reintroductions have reestablished the species in two protected areas, but the species has reclaimed <1% of their former range and remained absent from central Kazakhstan. To initiate restoration in this vast region, we captured and transported a first group of nine wild kulan to a large pre-release enclosure in the Torgai region in 2017, and two more in 2019. We used direct observations and post-release movement data of four kulan equipped with GPS-Iridium collars to document their adaptation process in a vast novel habitat without conspecifics. For comparison with movements in the source populations, we additionally equipped two kulan in Altyn Emel National Park and six in Barsa Kelmes State Nature Reserve. The nine transported kulan formed a cohesive group with very high movement correlation in the enclosure. After release, the group initially stayed tightly together but started to break up by mid-May and all kulan travelled independently by mid-August. With 48,680–136,953 km2, the 95% Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimation ranges of the reintroduced kulan were huge and about 10–100 times larger than those in the source populations. The reintroduced mares never reconnected, there was no evidence of successful reproduction, and two of the four collared mares were killed by poachers and one died of natural causes. At least one stallion survived in the wild, but the fate of the other uncollared animals remains unclear. We speculate that the fission-fusion dynamics and low movement correlation of kulan societies and the need for migratory movements harbours the risk that animals released into a novel environment loose contact with each other. This risk is likely enhanced in steppe habitats where movement constraining factors are absent. Further kulan reintroductions to the steppes and deserts of central Kazakhstan should aim to release larger groups and build up the free-ranging population quickly to reach a critical mass, increasing the chance of kulan encountering conspecifics to successfully breed and increase their chances of survival.

• Engler, John-Oliver; Wesche, Karsten; Kaczensky, Petra; Dhakal, Prabesh; Chuluunkhuyag, Oyundari & von Wehrden, Henrik (2021). Biophysical variability and politico-economic singularity: Responses of livestock numbers in South Mongolian nomadic pastoralism . Ecological Economics. ISSN 0921-8009. 187. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107073. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We analyzed a unique data set of livestock numbers in the Mongolian southern Gobi. In a novel approach, we combined biophysical data on precipitation and pasture biomass productivity with data on fine wool prices from 1981 through 2015 to investigate dynamic patterns and responses of livestock numbers in Mongolia’s southern Gobi. Using piecewise structural equation modeling enabled us to disentangle the effects of biophysical and politico-economic factors on livestock numbers and species composition, paying particular attention to the singular transition from centrally planned to free-market economy that happened in Mongolia in 1992. Our analysis reveals that biophysical and politico-economic factors were both important determinants of livestock numbers, and highlights the politico-economic singularity of 1992 as the single-largest driver of livestock dynamics in the period investigated. roductivity Nomadic Herding Gobi Precipitation Variability Post-Soviet Mongolia Extreme Events, Piecewise Structural Equation Modeling

• Šturm, Martina Burnik; Smith, Steve; Ganbaatar, Oyunsaikhan; Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar; Balint, Boglarka & Payne, John C. [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Isotope analysis combined with DNA barcoding provide new insights into the dietary niche of khulan in the Mongolian Gobi. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 16(3). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248294. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  With increasing livestock numbers, competition and avoidance are increasingly shaping resource availability for wild ungulates. Shifts in the dietary niche of wild ungulates are likely and can be expected to negatively affect their fitness. The Mongolian Gobi constitutes the largest remaining refuge for several threatened ungulates, but unprecedentedly high livestock numbers are sparking growing concerns over rangeland health and impacts on threatened ungulates like the Asiatic wild ass (khulan). Previous stable isotope analysis of khulan tail hair from the Dzungarian Gobi suggested that they graze in summer but switch to a poorer mixed C3 grass / C4 shrub diet in winter, most likely in reaction to local herders and their livestock. Here we attempt to validate these findings with a different methodology, DNA metabarcoding. Further, we extend the scope of the original study to the South Gobi Region, where we expect higher proportions of low-quality browse in the khulan winter diet due to a higher human and livestock presence. Barcoding confirmed the assumptions behind the seasonal diet change observed in the Dzungarian Gobi isotope data, and new isotope analysis revealed a strong seasonal pattern and higher C4 plant intake in the South Gobi Region, in line with our expectations. However, DNA barcoding revealed C4 domination of winter diet was due to C4 grasses (rather than shrubs) for the South Gobi Region. Slight climatic differences result in regional shifts in the occurrence of C3 and C4 grasses and shrubs, which do not allow for an isotopic separation along the grazer-browser continuum over the entire Gobi. Our findings do not allow us to confirm human impacts upon dietary preferences in khulan as we lack seasonal samples from the South Gobi Region. However, these data provide novel insight into khulan diet, raise new questions about plant availability versuspreference, and provide a cautionary tale about indirect analysis methods if used in isolation or extrapolated to the landscape level. Good concordance between relative read abundance of C4 genera from barcoding and proportion of C4 plants from isotope analysis adds to a growing body of evidence that barcoding is a promising quantitative tool to understand resource partitioning in ungulates.

• Dayaram, Anisha; Seeber, Peter A; Courtiol, Alexandre; Soilemetzidou, Sanatana-Eirini; Tsangaras, Kyriakos & Franz, Mathias [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2021). Seasonal host and ecological drivers may promote restricted water as a viral vector. Science of the Total Environment. ISSN 0048-9697. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145446. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In climates with seasonally limited precipitation, terrestrial animals congregate at high densities at scarce water sources. We hypothesize that viruses can exploit the recurrence of these diverse animal congrega- tions to spread. In this study, we test the central prediction of this hypothesis — that viruses employing this transmission strategy remain stable and infectious in water. Equid herpesviruses (EHVs) were cho- sen as a model as they have been shown to remain stable and infectious in water for weeks under labo- ratory conditions. Using fecal data from wild equids from a previous study, we establish that EHVs are shed more frequently by their hosts during the dry season, increasing the probability of water source contamination with EHV. We document the presence of several strains of EHVs present in high genome copy number from the surface water and sediments of waterholes sampled across a variety of mamma- lian assemblages, locations, temperatures and pH. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the different EHV strains found exhibit little divergence despite representing ancient lineages. We employed molecular approaches to show that EHVs shed remain stable in waterholes with detection decreasing with increas- ing temperature in sediments. Infectivity experiments using cell culture reveals that EHVs remain infectious in water derived from waterholes. The results are supportive of water as an abiotic viral vector for EHV. water, viral transmission, Equine herpesviruses, viral emergence, Wast Africa, Central Asia

• Lehnen, Lisa; Mueller, Thomas; Reinhardt, Ilka & Kaczensky, Petra (2021). Gesellschaftliche Einstellungen zur Rückkehr des Wolfs nach Deutschland : Social attitudes towards the wolf's return to Germany. Natur und Landschaft. ISSN 0028-0615. 91(1), p. 27–33. doi: 10.17433/1.2021.50153871.27-33. Full text in Research Archive
• Gliga, Diana S.; Petrova, Natalia; Linnell, John Durrus; Salemgareyev, Albert R.; Zuther, Steffen & Walzer, Chris [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Dynamics of gastro-inestinal strongyle parasites in a group of translocated, wild-captured asiatic wild asses in Kazakhstan . Frontiers in Veterinary Science. ISSN 2297-1769. 7. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.598371. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Asiatic wild ass (Kulan, Equus hemionus) population range and numbers became severely reduced and a reintroduction project is currently aiming to re-establish a population in the Central Steppe of Kazakhstan. Pre-emptive deworming is often recommended for equid translocations but eliminating parasites prior to translocation could cause disruptions in a balanced host-parasite relationship, adding an additional stressor to an already stressful intervention involving capture, transport, and adaptation to a new environment. Following a disease risk assessment, we decided against pre-emptive deworming and focused on monitoring the first group of nine translocated kulan in a large acclimatization enclosure prior to release. Over the 5-month acclimatization period, we regularly collected fecal samples and analyzed the shedding intensity of gastro-intestinal parasite eggs, obtained time budgets through behavioral observations, and visually assessed body condition. We identified strongyles (Strongylinae and Cyathostominae) and pinworms (Oxyuris equi) in fecal samples. All individuals shed strongyle eggs and two of the nine individuals had higher shedding intensities, but rarely reached levels for which deworming is recommended. All kulan appeared healthy throughout the observation period, aggressive interactions were very rare, and time budgets were very similar and dominated by feeding. Our results suggest that in translocation projects where the risk of introducing new parasites is minimal, pre-emptive treatment in wild equids can be replaced with non-invasivemonitoring during the acclimatization period.We acknowledge that the small number of kulan, the large size of the enclosure, and the low temperatures during the animals stay in the acclimatization enclosure may all have reduced infestation pressure. Asiatic wild ass, Equus hemionus kulan, gastro-intestinal parasites, reintroduction, fecal egg count, strongyles

• Noonan, Michael J.; Fleming, Christen H.; Tucker, Marlee A.; Kays, Roland; Harrison, Autumn-Lynn & Crofoot, Margaret C* [Show all 60 contributors for this article] (2020). Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements . Conservation Biology. ISSN 0888-8892. 34(4). doi: 10.1111/cobi.13495. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Accurately quantifying species’ area requirements is a prerequisite for effective area-based conservation. This typically involves collecting tracking data on species of interest and then conducting home-range analyses. Problematically, autocorrelation in tracking data can result in space needs being severely underestimated. Based on the previous work, we hypothesized the magnitude of underestimation varies with body mass, a relationship that could have serious conservation implications. To evaluate this hypothesis for terrestrial mammals, we estimated home-range areas with global positioning system (GPS) locations from 757 individuals across 61 globally distributed mammalian species with body masses ranging from 0.4 to 4000 kg. We then applied block cross-validation to quantify bias in empirical home-range estimates. Area requirements of mammals <10 kg were underestimated by a mean approximately15%, and species weighing approximately100 kg were underestimated by approximately50% on average. Thus, we found area estimation was subject to autocorrelation-induced bias that was worse for large species. Combined with the fact that extinction risk increases as body mass increases, the allometric scaling of bias we observed suggests the most threatened species are also likely to be those with the least accurate home-range estimates. As a correction, we tested whether data thinning or autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation minimized the scaling effect of autocorrelation on area estimates. Data thinning required an approximately93% data loss to achieve statistical independence with 95% confidence and was, therefore, not a viable solution. In contrast, autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation resulted in consistently accurate estimates irrespective of mass. When relating body mass to home range size, we detected that correcting for autocorrelation resulted in a scaling exponent significantly >1, meaning the scaling of the relationship changed substantially at the upper end of the mass spectrum.

• Linnell, John Durrus; Cretois, Benjamin; Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland; Rolandsen, Christer Moe; Solberg, Erling Johan & Veiberg, Vebjørn [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2020). The challenges and opportunities of coexisting with wild ungulates in the human-dominated landscapes of Europe's Anthropocene. Biological Conservation. ISSN 0006-3207. 244:108500, p. 1–12. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108500. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The cumulative impact of human activities has driven many species into severe declines across the globe. However, the recent focus on conservation optimism has begun to highlight case studies that go against this trend. Reforestation, agricultural abandonment, reintroduction and legislative change have led to a situation where large mammals have recovered and are now widespread across the European continent. This study summarizes the knowledge about wild ungulate distribution in Europe and review the diversity of ways in which they interact with humans. Drawn from a wide range of sources, we built distribution maps of European wild ungulates. Results show that 90% of Europe is home to at least 1 species of wild native ungulate, with roe deer and wild boar occupying 74% and 64% of Europe respectively. In contrast, wild native mountain ungulates only occupy 5% of Europe, and are often associated with protected areas. The wide distribution of most European ungulates combined with the extensive human activity within Europe result in a wide range of interactions between ungulates and humans. These interactions can be classified as services or disservices depending on the value orientation and economic position of the various stakeholders perceiving this relationship. Overall, our survey highlights the success of wildlife management policies in Europe and the potential for continental scale conservation of large mammals in human-dominated landscapes. However, maintaining the success of wild ungulate conservation requires actions from national and European institutions to improve coordinated management across jurisdictional borders and sectorial coordination for the whole landscape.

• Soilemetzidou, Eirini S.; de Bruin, Erwin; Eschke, Kathrin; Azab, Walid; Osterrieder, Nikolaus & Czirják, Gábor Á. [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2020). Bearing the brunt: Mongolian khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) are exposed to multiple influenza A strains. Veterinary Microbiology. ISSN 0378-1135. 242, p. 1–5. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108605. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The majority of influenza A virus strains are hosted in nature by avian species in the orders of Anseriformes and Charadriformes. A minority of strains have been able to cross species boundaries and establish themselves in novel non-avian hosts. Influenza viruses of horses, donkeys, and mules represent such successful events of avian to mammal influenza virus adaptation. Mongolia has over 3 million domestic horses and is home to two wild equids, the Asiatic wild ass or khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus), and Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Domestic and wild equids are sympatric across most of their range in Mongolia. Epizootic influenza A virus outbreaks among Mongolian domestic horses have been frequently recorded. However, the exposure, circulation and relation to domestic horse influenza A virus outbreaks among wild equids is unknown. We evaluated serum samples of Asiatic wild asses in Mongolia for antibodies against influenza A viruses, using modified protein microarray technique. We detected antibodies against hemagglutinin (H) H1, H3, H5, H7, H8 and H10 influenza A viruses. Asiatic wild asses may represent a previously unidentified influenza A virus reservoir in an ecosystem shared with populations of domestic horses in which influenza strains circulate.

• Payne, John C.; Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar; Bowler, Diana Elizabeth; Olson, Kirk A.; Walzer, Chris & Kaczensky, Petra (2020). Hidden treasure of the Gobi: understanding how water limits range use of khulan in the Mongolian Gobi. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59969-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Most large herbivores in arid landscapes need to drink which constrains their movements and makes them vulnerable to disturbance. Asiatic wild ass or khulan (Equus hemionus) were widespread and abundant throughout the arid landscapes of Central Asia and Mongolia, but have undergone dramatic population declines and range constrictions; denying khulan access to water is believed to have played a major role. Mongolia’s South Gobi Region now houses the world largest remaining khulan population, but is undergoing rapid land use changes. Khulan water use is poorly understood, largely due to the difficulty of mapping waterpoints used by khulan throughout their exceptionally large ranges, prone to high variations in precipitation. We used the special movement path characteristics of GPS tagged khulan to show us where water is located. We identified 367 waterpoints, 53 of which were of population importance, characterized the seasonal and circadian use, and identified snow cover as the most important variable predicting khulan visits during the non-growing season, and vegetation greenness during the growing season. Our results provide a data layer to help guide a regional khulan conservation strategy, allow predictions for other part of the global khulan range, and illustrates the overall importance of waterpoints for dryland herbivores.

• Kaczensky, Petra; Payne, J.C.; Ganbaatar, O.; Altansukh, N. & Walzer, Ch. (2019). Water use by khulan in the Dzungarian Gobi in SW Mongolia. Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei. ISSN 0440-1298. Show summary

  Water is the lifeline for the world’s drylands and the key for the distribution of water-dependent equids like khulan. We developed a simple algorithm using khulan tracks from GPS telemetry to identify waterpoints. This approach allowed us to obtain the first landscape-scale information on the use of waterpoints by khulan in Great Gobi B SPA. We discuss the merits and limitations of the algorithm and the implication for landscape level conservation. Equus hemionus, behaviour, GPS satellite telemetry, Gobi Desert, Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area, ground truthing, Mongolia, waterpoints

• Nandintsetseg, Dejid; Bracis, Chloe; Olson, Kirk A.; Böhning-Gaese, Katrin; Calabrese, Justin M. & Chimeddorj, Buyanaa [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2019). Challenges in the conservation of wide-ranging nomadic species. Journal of Applied Ecology. ISSN 0021-8901. 56(8), p. 1916–1926. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.13380.
• Nandintsetseg, Dejid; Bracis, Chloe; Leimgruber, Peter; Kaczensky, Petra; Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar & Lkhagvasuren, Badamjav [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2019). Variability in nomadism: environmental gradients modulate the movement behaviors of dryland ungulates. Ecosphere. ISSN 2150-8925. 10:e02924(11), p. 1–13. doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2924. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Studying nomadic animal movement across species and ecosystems is essential for better understanding variability in nomadism. In arid environments, unpredictable changes in water and forage resources are known drivers of nomadic movements. Water resources vary temporally but are often spatially stationary, whereas foraging resources are often both temporally and spatially variable. These differences may lead to different types of nomadic movements: forage- vs. water-driven nomadism. Our study investigates these two different types of nomadism in relation to resource gradients from mesic steppe to xeric desert environments in Mongolia’s Gobi-Steppe Ecosystem. We hypothesized that in the desert, where water is a key resource, animals are more water-dependent and may show water-driven nomadism with frequent revisits to spatially fixed resources, while in the steppe, animals are less water-dependent and may show forage-driven nomadism, tracking high-quality foraging patches with infrequent revisits to previously used resources. We utilized GPS movement data from 40 individuals of four ungulate species (Mongolian gazelle, goitered gazelle, saiga antelope, and Asiatic wild ass) in the Gobi-Steppe Ecosystem. We calculated displacement distances and recursion metrics and subsequently performed a principal component analysis to quantify the variation in movement patterns. The satellite-derived vegetation greenness served as a proxy for the resource gradient and was associated with variation in movement behaviors described by the first principal component, demonstrating that the variability in movements was closely related to the resource gradient from mesic to xeric habitats.We showed that ungulates in the resource-rich steppe tended to move long distances with few revisits (forage-driven nomadism), while ungulates in the resource-poor desert tended to move shorter distances with more revisits (water-driven nomadism). Our results suggest that xeric and mesic habitats promote different types of nomadic strategies. These results have important implications for conservation strategies: Forage-driven nomads primarily require a high degree of landscape-level permeability, and water-driven nomads additionally require the protection of ephemeral water bodies and actions to maintain the functional connectivity between them. animal movement; arid; forage; nomadism; recursion; resource; ungulate; water

• Joly, Kyle; Gurarie, Eliezer; Sorum, Mathew S.; Kaczensky, Petra; Cameron, Matthew D. & Jakes, Andrew F . [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2019). Longest terrestrial migrations and movements around the world. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 9(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51884-5. Show summary

  Long-distance terrestrial migrations are imperiled globally. We determined both round-trip migration distances (straight-line measurements between migratory end points) and total annual movement (sum of the distances between successive relocations over a year) for a suite of large mammals that had potential for long-distance movements to test which species displayed the longest of both. We found that caribou likely do exhibit the longest terrestrial migrations on the planet, but, over the course of a year, gray wolves move the most. Our results were consistent with the trophic-level based hypothesis that predators would move more than their prey. Herbivores in low productivity environments moved more than herbivores in more productive habitats. We also found that larger members of the same guild moved less than smaller members, supporting the ‘gastro-centric’ hypothesis. A better understanding of migration and movements of large mammals should aid in their conservation by helping delineate conservation area boundaries and determine priority corridors for protection to preserve connectivity. The magnitude of the migrations and movements we documented should also provide guidance on the scale of conservation efforts required and assist conservation planning across agency and even national boundaries.

• Kaczensky, Petra; Khaliun, Sanchir; Payne, John; Boldgiv, Bazartseren; Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar & Walzer, Chris (2019). Through the eye of a Gobi khulan – Application of camera collars for ecological research of far-ranging species in remote and highly variable ecosystems. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 14(6). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217772. Show summary

  The Mongolian Gobi-Eastern Steppe Ecosystem is one of the largest remaining natural drylands and home to a unique assemblage of migratory ungulates. Connectivity and integrity of this ecosystem are at risk if increasing human activities are not carefully planned and regulated. The Gobi part supports the largest remaining population of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus; locally called “khulan”). Individual khulan roam over areas of thousands of square kilometers and the scale of their movements is among the largest described for terrestrial mammals, making them particularly difficult to monitor. Although GPS satellite telemetry makes it possible to track animals in near-real time and remote sensing provides environmental data at the landscape scale, remotely collected data also harbors the risk of missing important abiotic or biotic environmental variables or life history events. We tested the potential of animal born camera systems (“camera collars”) to improve our understanding of the drivers and limitations of khulan movements. Deployment of a camera collar on an adult khulan mare resulted in 7,881 images over a one-year period. Over half of the images showed other khulan and 1,630 images showed enough of the collared khulan to classify the behaviour of the animals seen into several main categories. These khulan images provided us with: i) new insights into important life history events and grouping dynamics, ii) allowed us to calculate time budgets for many more animals than the collared khulan alone, and iii) provided us with a training dataset for calibrating data from accelerometer and tilt sensors in the collar. The images also allowed to document khulan behaviour near infrastructure and to obtain a day-time encounter rate between a specific khulan with semi-nomadic herders and their livestock. Lastly, the images allowed us to ground truth the availability of water by: i) confirming waterpoints predicted from other analyses, ii) detecting new waterpoints, and iii) compare precipitation records for rain and snow from landscape scale climate products with those documented by the camera collar. We discuss the added value of deploying camera collars on a subset of animals in remote, highly variable ecosystems for research and conservation.

• Hofman, M. P. G.; Hayward, M.W.; Heim, Morten; Marchand, P.; Rolandsen, Christer Moe & Mattisson, Jenny [Show all 118 contributors for this article] (2019). Right on track? Performance of satellite telemetry in terrestrial wildlife research. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 14:e0216223(5), p. 1–26. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216223. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Satellite telemetry is an increasingly utilized technology in wildlife research, and current devices can track individual animal movements at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions. However, as we enter the golden age of satellite telemetry, we need an in-Depth understanding of the main technological, species-specific and environmental factors that determine the success and failure of satellite tracking devices across species and habitats. Here, we assess the relative influence of such factors on the ability of satellite telemetry units to provide the expected amount and quality of data by analyzing data from over 3,000 devices deployed on 62 terrestrial species in 167 projects worldwide. We evaluate the success rate in obtaining GPS fixes as well as in transferring these fixes to the user and we evaluate failure rates. Average fix success and data transfer rates were high and were generally better predicted by species and unit characteristics, while environmental characteristics influenced the variability of performance. However, 48% of the unit deployments ended prematurely, half of them due to technical failure. Nonetheless, this study shows that the performance of satellite telemetry applications has shown improvements over time, and based on our findings, we provide further recommendations for both users and manufacturers.

• Huber, Nikolaus; Marasco, Valeria; Painer, Johanna; Vetter, Sebastian G.; Göritz, Frank & Kaczensky, Petra [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Leukocyte coping capacity: an integrative parameter for wildlife welfare within conservation interventions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. ISSN 2297-1769. 6. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00105. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Wildlife management, conservation interventions and wildlife research programs often involve capture, manipulation and transport of wild animals. Widespread empirical evidence across various vertebrate taxa shows that handling wildlife generally induces a severe stress response resulting in increased stress levels. The inability of individuals to appropriately respond to rapidly changing environmental conditions during and after manipulations may have deleterious and long-lasting implications on animal welfare. Therefore, mitigating stress responses in the frame of conservation interventions is a key animal welfare factor. However, we have a poor understanding of the metrics to adequately assess and monitor the dynamic physiological changes that animals undergo when subjected to stressful procedures in wild or captive conditions. A growing number of studies provide good evidence for reciprocal interactions between immune processes and stress. Here, we review the existing literature on a relatively new technique—Leukocyte Coping Capacity (LCC), a proxy for stress quantifying oxygen radical production by leukocytes. We discuss the strength and weaknesses of this immunological approach to evaluate stress, the individual capacity to cope with stress and the resulting potential implications for animal welfare. Additionally we present new data on LCC in captive roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) under long-time anesthesia and free-ranging Asiatic wild asses (Kulan; Equus hemionus kulan) were LCC was used to assess stress levels in animals captured for a reintroduction project. stress, leukocyte coping capacity, endocrine-immune interaction, animal welfare, wildlife management, conservation interventions

• Arbieu, Ugo; Mehring, Marion; Bunnefeld, Nils; Kaczensky, Petra; Reinhardt, Ilka & Ansorge, Hermann [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2019). Attitudes towards returning wolves (Canis lupus) in Germany: Exposure, information sources and trust matter. Biological Conservation. ISSN 0006-3207. 234, p. 202–210. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.03.027. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Understanding how exposure and information affect public attitudes towards returning large carnivores in Europe is critical for human-carnivore coexistence, especially for developing efficient and de-escalating communication strategies. The ongoing recolonization of wolves (Canis lupus) in Germany provides a unique opportunity to test the role of different information sources and trust on people's attitudes towards wolves. We conducted a phone survey (n=1250) and compared country-wide attitudes towards wolves with attitudes in a specific region where wolves initially recolonized and have been present since 2000. In particular, we investigate the relationship between information sources, trust and people's attitudes while accounting for factors like knowledge, exposure and socio-cultural determinants of respondents. We found significant differences in attitudes and knowledge about wolves as well as in the use and frequency of information sources between the two population samples. Higher knowledge, information from books and films, science-based information, and higher trust in information sources related positively with positive attitudes towards wolves. Comparatively, information from press or TV news was associated with more negative attitudes. Providing science-based information to the public and building trust in information is likely to be one measure, among others, to dampen extreme attitudes and improve people's appreciation of costs and benefits of human-carnivore coexistence. Management of conflictual situations emerging from large carnivore recolonization in Europe and beyond should consider incorporating assessments of people's use of and trust in information in addition to existing tools to pave new ways for constructive human-carnivore coexistence.

• Calabrese, Justin M.; Fleming, Christen H.; Fagan, William F.; Rimmler, Martin; Kaczensky, Petra & Bewick, Sharon [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2018). Disentangling social interactions and environmental drivers in multi-individual wildlife tracking data. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. ISSN 0962-8436. 373. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0007.
• Lkhagvasuren, D; Batsaikhan, N; Fagan, William F; Ghandakly, EC; Kaczensky, Petra & Müller, T [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2018). First assessment of the population structure of the Asiatic wild ass in Mongolia. European Journal of Wildlife Research. ISSN 1612-4642. 64(1), p. 1–6. doi: 10.1007/s10344-017-1162-x.
• Kaczensky, Petra; Kovtun, Ekaterina; Habibrakhmanov, Rustam; Hemami, Mahmoud‑Reza; Khaleghi, Amirhossein & Linnell, John Durrus [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2018). Genetic characterization of free-ranging Asiatic wild ass in Central Asia as a basis for future conservation strategies. Conservation Genetics. ISSN 1566-0621. 19(5), p. 1169–1184. doi: 10.1007/s10592-018-1086-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Loss of genetic diversity due to drift and inbreeding reduces a population’s ability to respond to environmental change and may result in inbreeding depression. The Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus), regionally also known as Gobi khulan, Turkmen kulan, or Persian onager, has become confined to less than 3% of its historic distribution range. Remaining populations in Central Asia outside of the Mongolian Gobi are small and fragmented. Questions concerning subpopulation status remain disputed and concerns over the viability of these populations have been raised because of small size, past bottlenecks, or recent founder events. We used non-invasive faecal samples to assess the genetic diversity and divergence among Turkmen kulan and Persian onager from five free-ranging and one captive population from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Iran and compared their genetic constitution to the large autochthonous population in the Mongolian Gobi. We observed loss of genetic diversity (drift and inbreeding) in the captive and reintroduced populations as well as in one rapidly declining autochthonous population. Population differentiation and structure using microsatellites and mtDNA based phylogenetic analysis do not support the current separation of the autochthonous populations of Turkmen kulan and Persian onager into different subspecies, but rather suggest a cline with the Iranian population in Bahram-e-Goor at the southern end and the Turkmen population in Badhyz at the northern end falling into two distinct clusters, and the northern Iranian population in Touran being intermediate. We compare our findings to other population genetics studies of equids and discuss the implications of our findings for the future conservation of the Asiatic wild ass in the region. Asiatic wild ass · Equus hemionus · Microsatellites · MtDNA · Inbreeding · Reintroduction

• Costantini, David; Seeber, Peter A.; Soilemetzidou, Sanatana-Eirini; Azab, Walid; Bohner, Julia & Buuveibaata, Bayarbaatar [Show all 19 contributors for this article] (2018). Physiological costs of infection: herpesvirus replication is linked to blood oxidative stress in equids. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 8:10347, p. 1–10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28688-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Viruses may have a dramatic impact on the health of their animal hosts. The patho-physiological mechanisms underlying viral infections in animals are, however, not well understood. It is increasingly recognized that oxidative stress may be a major physiological cost of viral infections. Here we compare three blood-based markers of oxidative status in herpes positive and negative individuals of the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus) and of both captive and free-ranging Mongolian khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) and plains zebra (Equus quagga). Herpes positive free-ranging animals had significantly moreprotein oxidative damage and lower glutathione peroxidase (antioxidant enzyme) than negative ones, providing correlative support for a link between oxidative stress and herpesvirus infection in free-living equids. Conversely, we found weak evidence for oxidative stress in herpes positive captive animals. Hence our work indicates that environment (captive versus free living) might affect the physiological response of equids to herpesvirus infection. The Mongolian khulan and the plains zebra are currently classified as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Thus, understanding health impacts of pathogens on these species is critical to maintaining viable captive and wild populations.

• Tucker, Marlee A.; Böhning-Gaese, Katrin; Fagan, William F.; Fryxell, John M.; Van Moorter, Bram & Alberts, Susan C. [Show all 115 contributors for this article] (2018). Moving in the Anthropocene: Global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements. Science. ISSN 0036-8075. 359(6374), p. 466–469. doi: 10.1126/science.aam9712. Full text in Research Archive
• Šturm, Martina Burnik; Ganbaatar, Oyunsaikhan; Voigt, Christian C. & Kaczensky, Petra (2017). Sequential stable isotope analysis reveals differences in dietary history of three sympatric equid species in the Mongolian Gobi. Journal of Applied Ecology. ISSN 0021-8901. 54(4), p. 1110–1119. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12825.
• Kaczensky, Petra; Šturm, Martina Burnik; Sablin, Mikhail V.; Voigt, Christian C.; Smith, Steve & Ganbaatar, Oyunsaikhan [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2017). Stable isotopes reveal diet shift from pre-extinction to reintroduced Przewalski's horses. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 7(5950), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05329-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), the only remaining wild horse within the equid family, is one of only a handful of species worldwide that went extinct in the wild, was saved by captive breeding, and has been successfully returned to the wild. However, concerns remain that after multiple generations in captivity the ecology of the Przewalski’s horse and / or the ecological conditions in its former range have changed in a way compromising the species’ long term survival. We analyzed stable isotope chronologies from tail hair of pre-extinction and reintroduced Przewalski’s horses from the Dzungarian Gobi and detected a clear difference in the isotopic dietary composition. The direction of the dietary shift from being a mixed feeder in winter and a grazer in summer in the past, to a year-round grazer nowadays, is best explained by a release from human hunting pressure. A changed, positive societal attitude towards the species allows reintroduced Przewalski’s horses to utilize the scarce, grass-dominated pastures of the Gobi alongside local people and their livestock whereas their historic conspecifics were forced into less productive habitats dominated by browse.

• Linnell, John Durrus; Kaczensky, Petra & Lescureux, Nicolas (2016). Human Dimensions of Wild Equid Management Exploring the Meanings of “Wild”. In Ransom, Jason I. & Kaczensky, Petra (Ed.), Wild equids: ecology, management and conservation. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISSN 9781421419091. p. 121–132.

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• Ransom, JI & Kaczensky, Petra (2016). Equus: An Ancient Genus Surviving the Modern World. IN: Ransom, JI; Kaczensky, P [Hrsg.]: Wild equids : ecology, management, and conservation. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-1909-1. 4 p.
• Kaczensky, Petra; Hrabar, H; Lukarevskiy, V; Zimmermann, W; Usukhjargal, D & Ganbaatar, O [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Reintroduction of Wild Equids. IN: Ransom, JI; Kaczensky, P [Hrsg.]: Wild equids : ecology, management, and conservation. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-1909-1. 18 p.

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• Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Mapping Large Carnivore distribution in Europe 2017 – 2022/23.
• Reinhardt, Ilka; Knauer, Felix; Herdfelder, Micha & Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Wie lassen sich Nutztierübergriffe durch Wölfe nachhaltig minimieren? – Eine Literaturübersicht mit Empfehlungen für Deutschland. In Voigt, Christian C. (Eds.), Evidenzbasiertes Wildtiermanagement. Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. ISSN 978-3-662-65744-7. p. 231–256. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-65745-4_9.
• Kaczensky, Petra; Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar; Walzer, Chris & Olson, Kirk A. (2023). New Railways May Threaten the Largest Population of Asiatic Wild Ass in the World. CAMI Newsletter.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Research Updates for Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Great and Small Gobi ecological values. Show summary

  Background: The Mongolian Gobi represents the most intact and well protected components in the Eastern subtype of the Central Asian cold winter desert. They are outstanding at a global scale due to the combination of extent, diversity and pristineness. The Mongolian Great and Small Gobi host an extraordinary representation of critical populations of rare animal and plant species. Both in terms of values and degree of pristineness, the Mongolian Gobi compares favourably to deserts worldwide many of which have been directly and indirectly affected by a much heavier "human footprint". In 2014 Mongolia submitted the “Desert Landscapes of the Mongolian Great Gobi” at the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Convention. It comprises of three separate component parts:  Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (SPA) – Part A  Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (SPA) – Part B  Small Gobi Strictly Protected Area (SPA) – Part B Prospectively we welcome the inclusion of Small Gobi Strictly Protected Area (SPA) – Part A, because of its complementary landscapes and habitats and because its connection of the Small Gobi B to the Great Gobi SPAs. This workshop is intended to bring different groups of experts together and to initiate a working group modus for the further elaboration of a comprehensive and progressive nomination dossier that becomes effective towards the conservation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Gobi deserts. As part of international projects and regional conservation efforts, a joint workshop will be carried out. The aim of this workshop is to: i) bring together researchers and conservationists whose expertise extents on Mongolia Gobi and biodiversity conservation in order to exchange knowledge and experience, ii) initiate exchange on relevant research outcomes and identify main threats and conservation challenges, iii) initiate the identification of knowledge and onservation gaps, and iv) collect relevant studies and conservation actions for follow up workshops to address the afore mentioned aims.

• Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Khulan migration in Mongolia and Central Asia. Show summary

  In 2021, we launched the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration (GIUM, https://www.cms.int/en/gium) under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), recognizing the global threat to ungulate migrations due to barriers, habitat loss and fragmentation, and climate change. The initiative is working collaboratively to 1) collate and document knowledge on ungulate migrations worldwide to create a Global Atlas of Ungulate Migration; and 2) provide actionable migration maps to a variety of stakeholders to inform their decision-making and policies on development planning and conservation to sustain ungulate migrations worldwide. To accelerate this new effort, we held the inaugural meeting of the GIUM at Jackson Lake Lodge within Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming, USA) from July 5th-8th 2023. Meeting participants represented 25 countries across all the world's major terrestrial regions (except for Australia and Antarctica where there are no native ungulates), and almost all the longest migrations. It was the first meeting of its kind. In addition to researchers who have collected critical tracking data, the workshop was attended by several multilateral organizations and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the UN Convention on Migratory Species, the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Center, The World Bank, the IUCN Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, African Parks, the World Wildlife Fund, The Frankfurt Zoological Society, The Nature Conservancy, The Wilderness Society, and others. Several government agencies were also represented, including the Government of Northwest Territories, Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, and ZimParks.

• Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Khulan migration in Mongolia. Show summary

  On the last night of the workshop, Saturday night, participants gathered down in Jackson at the National Museum of Wildlife Art for an Evening of Migration Stories from around the World. The museum was an ideal setting for the fourteen five-minute talks that were presented by individual participants coming from different regions. The mixing of different migrations, cultures, perspectives, from all around the world was the beginning of an effort to speak collectively about the importance of ungulate migrations and the conservation challenges they face.

• Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Draft Range-Wide Action Plan for the Conservation of the Wild Ass. Show summary

  The meeting will take place as a technical workshop due to insufficient participation of official Range State representatives and will consist of the process of development of the Internaitonal Single Species Action Plan for the Asiatic Wild Ass. On 30 June the BfN-CMS Transboundary Cooperation Workshop will take place with participation of partner organizations, such as the GIZ and the Michael Succow Foundation. These Meetings are jointly organised by the CMS Secretariat and the International Academy for Nature Conservation (INA) of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funding from the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). It is being convened within the framework of the 2020 – 2023 Joint Work Programme between the CMS Secretariat and the BfN under the activity “Developing an International Single Species Action Plan for the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus).” The 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (COP13) adopted Resolution 11.24 (Rev. COP13), containing the Programme of Work 2021-2026 for the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI POW). Activities 11.1-11.8 of the CAMI POW address conservation of the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus). In particular, Activity 11.1 requests the Range States, with the support of the CMS Secretariat and IUCN Equid Specialist Group to Update status and distribution of Asiatic Wild Ass in all countries and develop a cross-boundary conservation vision. Furthermore Activity 11.2 requests the Range States with the support of the CMS Secretariat and the IUCN Equid Specialist Group to Develop an International Single Species Action Plan for the Asiatic Wild Ass covering all Range States as well as national action plans. The Meeting will facilitate implementation of these Activities. Objectives The main objectives of the Asiatic Wild Ass Workshop are to: Review the status and distribution of the Asiatic Wild Ass Discuss aspects of re-introduction, habitat fragmentation and mitigation measures, wildlife health and transboundary conservation Identify main threats and actions needed Develop the Single Species Action Plan for the Asiatic Wild Ass. The main objectives of the Transboundary Cooperation Workshop are to: Introduce ongoing transboundary conservation initiatives in Asiatic Wild Ass habitat Explore synergies and collaboration potential in particular with respect to supporting CMS Parties in implementing the Convention. Starting from relevant recommendations of the Study “Transboundary Conservation Hotspots for the Central Asian Mammals Initiative” (Transboundary Hotspots Study) recommend follow up activities to promote conservation of selected wildlife hotspots. Participation in the meeting is upon invitation by the CMS Secretariat and BfN.

• Kaczensky, Petra (2022). Conservation status and research on Asiatic wild ass - where and why do we need AI?
• Rosen, Tatjana; Kaczensky, Petra & Linnell, John Durrus (2021). Protecting the cats of the cold winter deserts in Turkmenistan and western Kazakhstan.
• von Arx, Manuela; Kaczensky, Petra; Linnell, John Durrus; Lanz, Tabea; Breitenmoser-Würsten, Christine & Boitani, Luigi [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Conservation status of the Eurasian lynx in West and Central Europe. Cat News. ISSN 1027-2992. p. 05–08.
• Kaczensky, Petra & Linnell, John Durrus (2021). Distribution of large carnivores in Europe 2012 - 2016: Distribution maps for Brown bear, Eurasian lynx, Grey wolf, and Wolverine. Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pc866t1p3.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2021). Die Migration der Wildtiere. [Radio]. Ö1 Radiokolleg, https://oe1.orf.at/player/.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2021). Works carried out for conservation and research of Ungulates in Turkmenistan.
• Kaczensky, Petra & Strnadl, Susanne (2021). Ein Atlas für Tierwanderwege. [Newspaper]. Der Standard. Show summary

  Ob Gnus, Antilopen, Rotwild oder Wildesel: Millionen Huftiere scheitern bei ihren Wanderungen an menschgemachten Barrieren. Eine globale Initiative will nun ihre Wege kartieren.

• Kaczensky, Petra & Schmidt, Veronika (2021). Das Wandern ist der Huftiere Lust: Barrieren stören ihre Natur. [Newspaper]. Die Presse. Show summary

  Eine internationales Forschungsteam sammelt historisches und aktuelles Wissen über Wanderrouten von Büffeln, Zebras, Antilopen, Rehen, Hirschen, Eseln und mehr. Die Datenbank soll bei Entscheidungsträgern Bewusstsein schaffen, wie man gefährdete Arten besser schützt.

• Kaczensky, Petra & Schmidt, Veronika (2021). Herpesviren der Pferde bleiben in Wasser infektiös. [Newspaper]. Die Presse.
• Kauffman, Matthew J.; Cagnacci, Francesca; Chamaillé-Jammes, Simon; Hebblewhite, Mark; Hopcraft, J. Grant C. & Merkle, Jerod A. [Show all 54 contributors for this article] (2021). Mapping out a future for ungulate migrations. Limited mapping of migrations hampers conservation. Science. ISSN 0036-8075. 372(6542), p. 566–569. doi: 10.1126/science.abf0998. Show summary

  Migration of ungulates (hooved mammals) is a fundamental ecological process that promotes abundant herds, whose effects cascade up and down terrestrial food webs. Migratory ungulates provide the prey base that maintains large carnivore and scavenger populations and underpins terrestrial biodiversity (fig. S1). When ungulates move in large aggregations, their hooves, feces, and urine create conditions that facilitate distinct biotic communities. The migrations of ungulates have sustained humans for thousands of years, forming tight cultural links among Indigenous people and local communities. Yet ungulate migrations are disappearing at an alarming rate (1). Efforts by wildlife managers and conservationists are thwarted by a singular challenge: Most ungulate migrations have never been mapped in sufficient detail to guide effective conservation. Without a strategic and collaborative effort, many of the world’s great migrations will continue to be truncated, severed, or lost in the coming decades. Fortunately, a combination of animal tracking datasets, historical records, and local and Indigenous knowledge can form the basis for a global atlas of migrations, designed to support conservation action and policy at local, national, and international levels.

• Kaczensky, Petra (2020). Turkmen khulan – a flagship species for dryland biodiversity & landscape connectivity. Summary of monitoring and research activities on kulan and other large mammals in Turkmenistan since 2015.
• Linnell, John Durrus & Kaczensky, Petra (2020). Reintroduction, persistence and local extinction of Central Asian kulan in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan .
• Kaczensky, Petra (2020). Update on Wild Ass or Onager in Iran. Central Asian Mammals Initiative. Newsletter. p. 8–8.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2020). News on Asiatic Wild Ass in Turkmenistan. Central Asian Mammals Initiative. Newsletter. p. 7–7.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2020). The Gobi khulan – a flagship species for mobility and landscape connectivity. Show summary

  Khulan have been eradicated from 80% of their former range. The Mongolian Gobi currently holds >80% of the global population and constitutes >70% of the global breeding range and therefore is the most important stronghold of the species. In the Mongolian Gobi, individual khulan roam over of thousands of square kilometres annually and their movements are among the largest reported for terrestrial mammals globally. The ecosystem service provide by khulan range from large scale seed dispersal, provision of water holes for other wildlife to consumptive and spiritual values for local residents. The species is currently listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List, but remains under close scrutiny because multiple developments which negatively impact the size, quality and functional connectivity of the Gobi-Eastern Steppe ecosystem are happening simultaneously and at an unprecedented speed in an ecosystem which so far has remained in a near natural stage. These developments are: 1) the dramatic and unhindered increase in livestock and a change in the traditional herding system, 2) the rapid development of the resource extraction sector, and 3) the expansion and upgrading of the transport infrastructure to meet the needs of the mining boom and allow Mongolia to connect to the international market. The talk explores how these threats may affect khulan in the future and why khulan are an ideal flagship species for mobility and landscape connectivity.

• Joly, Kyle; Gurarie, Eliezer; Sorum, Mathew S.; Kaczensky, Petra; Cameron, Matthew D. & Jakes, Andrew F. [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2020). Author Correction: Longest terrestrial migrations and movements around the world. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-57446-4.
• Michler, L.; Trydte, A.C. & Kaczensky, Petra (2019). Sharing grazing space – how can pastoralists and wildlife coexist in the Dzungarian Gobi, Mongolia.
• Burnik Šturm, Martina; Spasskaya, N.N.; Sablin, M.V.; Voigt, C.V.; Ganbaatar, O. & Smith, Steve [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Dietary behaviour of three sympatric equid species in the Dzungarian Gobi – past and present.
• Linnell, John Durrus; Kaczensky, Petra; Salemgareyev, Albert R.; Zuther, Steffen; Rustamov, Eldar & Karryeva, Shirin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Reintroduction, persistence and local extinction of central Asian kulan in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
• Kaczensky, Petra & Schmidbauer, Markus (2018). Die fliegenden Wildesel von Kasachstan. [TV]. ARTE . 360° – Die GEO-Reportage. Show summary

  Die Umsiedlung von Wildeseln ist ein riskantes Unterfangen. Bei einem Versuch in der Vergangenheit starben alle Tiere. Jetzt will in Kasachstan ein erfahrenes, internationales Team aus Tierärzten und Biologen das Wagnis eingehen und einen Teil der im Altyn-Emel-Nationalpark beheimateten und vom Aussterben bedrohten Kulane in die zentralasiatische Torgai-Steppe umsiedeln – in einem der größten Transporthubschrauber der Welt.Schon das Einfangen ist ein Kraftakt: Logistisch ist es kaum möglich, eine größere Anzahl der extrem scheuen Tiere in kurzer Zeit zu fangen – erst im Oktober, wenn die Nahrung knapp wird, begeben sie sich ins Tal des Flusses Ili. Für einen erfolgreichen Fang muss sich eine Kulanherde von mindestens 40 Tieren nahe des Fangkorrals aufhalten. Nur im Schutz der Dunkelheit können die kasachischen Ranger sie im Scheinwerferlicht ihrer Geländewagen in ein kleines Schutzgehege treiben. Dabei sollten Stuten und Fohlen möglichst nicht getrennt werden. Auch wenige Hengste müssen dabei sein, um eine neue Population aufzubauen. Im Korral werden die Tiere betäubt, ihnen werden Blutproben genommen, ein Gesundheitscheck gemacht, ein Langzeitberuhigungsmittel für den Transport gespritzt und ein Senderhalsband angelegt, um ihre Entwicklung in ihrer neuen Heimat, der Torgai-Steppe, verfolgen zu können. Erst dann kommen die Tiere in ihre Transportbox und das Abenteuer des Fluges steht bevor. Wird die Aktion gelingen, und werden die Tiere die Strapazen gut überstehen? „360° Geo Reportage“ begleitet ein Team aus Tierärzten und Biologen bei dieser einzigartigen Aktion.

• Linnell, John Durrus & Kaczensky, Petra (2018). Wildlife surveys in Turkmenistan 2014-2018.
• Linnell, John Durrus & Kaczensky, Petra (2018). International Scientific Experience in Conservation of Biodiversity in Turkmenistan.
• Linnell, John Durrus; Kaczensky, Petra; Bowler, Diana Elizabeth & Nilsen, Erlend Birkeland (2018). Success and failure at conserving focal species in two Asian protected areas.
• Lenin, Janaki; Linnell, John Durrus & Kaczensky, Petra (2017). How a Wild Ass Hunted out by History Is Being Brought Back to Kazakhstan. [Internet]. The Wire.
• Gantulga, G.; Boldgiv, B.; Lkhagvasuren, D & Kaczensky, Petra (2017). Examination of new technology to assess the diet and behaviour of takhi: Camera attached on GPS telemetry collar.
• Esmaeili, S; Hemami, M-R; Kaczensky, Petra; Walzer, Chris & Goheen, R (2017). Resource-Based Conflicts Between Onagers and Livestock in Central Iran.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2017). Neue Begrenzungen in Europa. Ökojagd. 2017(2), p. 60–62.
• Kaczensky, Petra (2017). Begrenzte Vielfalt. Umwelt Aktuell. 2017(2), p. 4–5.
• Kaczensky, Petra & Swanson, Heidi (2017). Migratory Wild asses returning to Central Kazakhstan. [Business/trade/industry journal]. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
• Linnell, John Durrus; Lescureux, Nicolas & Kaczensky, Petra (2012). Wild, domestic, hybrid, feral, icon and pest: comparing and contrasting the complexity of human relationships with horses and wolves.
• Vogler, Thomas; Altansukh, N.; Ganbaatar, Oyunsaikhan; Sukhbaatar, Dalai; Devineau, Olivier & Kaczensky, Petra (2023). Steppe ungulate count in Great Gobi B Strictly Protected area 2022. Høgskolen i Innlandet. ISSN 978-82-8380-400-3. Show summary

  The plains of Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area (subsequently “Great Gobi B”) in southwestern Mongolia are home to three endangered wild ungulates, khulan (Equus hemionus), takhi (Equus ferus przewalskii), and goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa). With Mongolia holding the largest populations of these species, their conservation is of global importance. To assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts, robust survey methods are needed to monitor population development. In late summer 2022 we conducted the 3rd plains ungulate count in Great Gobi B to estimate population size of khulan and goitered gazelle and describe population development since the counts in 2010 and 2015 and tested the method for estimating the growing population of reintroduced Przewalski’s horses. We conducted Distance Sampling point counts at 101 observation points over 6 counting events (at 19:00, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00) at each observation point. During each counting event the observers scanned the surroundings using binoculars and registered species, number of animals, time, bearing and distance for each observation. Over the 606 counts, we observed 5,744 khulan, 3,150 gazelles and 922 Przewalski’s horses. Using these observations, we created global models (over all observation points and counting events) using the distance analysis framework and selected models with the best fit based on AIC values. Populations estimates for 2022 were 5,204 (95% CI = 2,121 – 12,771) khulan, 10,980 (95% CI = 7,473 – 16,132) goitered gazelles, and 1,288 (95% CI = 213 – 7,776) Przewalski’s horses within the 13,000 km2 survey area. Population estimates of both khulan and goitered gazelle suggested an increase from 2010 to 2015, while the 2022 estimated is closer to the 2010 estimates for khulan and in between for goitered gazelles. However, confidence intervals, especially for khulan, are large and population development cannot be determined conclusively. The uncertainty in the khulan estimate for 2022 was caused by the combination of a highly clumped distribution due to draught conditions and a large variation in group sizes. Goitered gazelles were more evenly distributed and group sizes less variable. Estimating Przewalski’s horse population resulted in a gross overestimate because of the knowledge rangers had about the location of Przewalski’s horse groups from intensive weekly monitoring. The data suggests that they specifically looked for groups, as Przewalski’s horses were detected almost equally likely over all distance categories. Confidence intervals were large because the population is still small (numbering just over 400) and distribution was also highly clumped due to the drought condition. The 2022 population estimates for khulan and goitered gazelles and the comparison with the estimates from 2010 and 2015 should be regarded as preliminary because: 1) The 3 surveys were analysed using slightly different distance analysis frameworks and 2) Distance Sampling does not take the spatial distribution of groups into account and we plan to explore such methods before we will reanalyse the 3 surveys within the same analysis framework.

• Boitani, Luigi; Kaczensky, Petra; Álvares, Francisco; Andren, Henrik; Balys, Vaidas & Blanco, Juan Carlos [Show all 42 contributors for this article] (2022). Assessment of the conservation status of the wolf (Canis lupus) in Europe. Standing Commitee of the Bern Convention.
• Boitani, Luigi; Kaczensky, Petra & et al, et al, et al (2022). Assessment of the conservation status of the Wolf (Canis lupus) in Europe. Council of Europe Publishing.
• Kaczensky, Petra; Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar; Payne, John C.; Strindberg, Samantha; Walzer, Chris & Batsaikhan, Nyamsuren [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2020). A conservation strategy for khulan in Mongolia: background and key considerations. Norsk institutt for naturforskning (NINA). ISSN 978-82-426-4662-0. Show summary

  Asiatic wild ass Conservation Ecosystem services Equus hemionus Khulan Landscape connectivity Mongolia Threats Asiatisk villesel Bevaring Økosystemtjenester Equus hemionus Khulan Konnektivitet i landskapet Mongolia Trusler

• Reinhardt, Ilka; Kaczensky, Petra; Frank, Jens; Knauer, Felix & Kluth, Gesa (2020). How to deal with bold wolves. Recommendations of the DBBW . Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN) Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. ISSN 978-3-89624-338-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  For a long time, there were no wolves in Germany. Since 2000, the species has been steadily spreading out from Lusatia and populating more areas. People in areas recently settled by wolves are only gradually learning how to live alongside this animal and are often uncertain how to interpret wolf behaviour. How dangerous are wolves for humans? What constitutes normal behaviour and what is considered unusual or bold behaviour? This report provides assessments of wolf behaviour as it relates to human safety and recom-mends managing wolves which display unwanted behaviour. In this report, conspicuous behaviour refers to wolf behaviour towards humans which is considered undesirable, and ranges from unusual to bold. This report is intended to provide guidance and recommendations to the authorities respon-sible for wolf management, and focusses on wolf-human interactions. It defines terms frequently used in this context, summarises the current state of knowledge relating to the danger posed by wolves and describes the causes for the development of bold behaviour. Recommendations on how to react to reports of bold wolf sightings are also given. Moreover, the report assesses the most common types of wolf behaviour in relation to human safety. These recommendations are primarily aimed at the competent federal state authorities, to enable them to make an initial assessment of wolf behaviour in terms of human safety and to prepare possible courses of action. However, it is not intended as a general template for action. Every situation in which a wolf is perceived as bold or is behaving conspicuously needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The aims of these recommendations are a) to ensure that people in Germany are not injured or killed by wild wolves; b) to foster and maintain public trust in wolf management authorities in wolf regions; c) to ensure that people’s fear of wolves does not increase and d) to enable wolves to spread further in Germany without causing serious conflicts between wolves and humans.

• Kaczensky, Petra; Salemgareyev, Albert R.; Zuther, Steffen; Suttibayev, Mukhit; Adilbekova, Fariza & Linnell, John Durrus (2020). Reintroduction of kulan into the central steppe of Kazakhstan: Field Report for 2018-2019. Norsk institutt for naturforskning (NINA). ISSN 978-82-426-4539-5.
• Kaczensky, Petra; Rustamov, E.; Karryeva, S.; Iankov, P.; Hudaykuliev, N. & Saparmyadov, J. [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2019). Rapid assessments of wildlife in Turkmenistan 2018. Norsk institutt for naturforskning (NINA). ISSN 978-82-426-3446-7. Show summary

  Although Turkmenistan supports many wildlife species there is very little up-to-date and acces-sible information on its status. Since 2014 we have been conducting a series of expeditions to protected areas throughout the country. The primary objective has been to clarify the status of Turkmen kulan (Equus hemionus), however, we have also had a secondary focus on other large mammals, especially the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus) and its potential prey species, urial (Ovis orientalis), goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), markhor (Capra falconeri), bezoar (Capra aegagrus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). In addition, several expeditions have been ac-companied by ornithologists and herpetologists availing of the platform to obtain up-to-date rec-ords of these species. Finally, the expeditions have been used to assist networking and experi-ence exchange between the staff of the different protected areas.

• Roettger, Christiane; Anarbaev, Maksatbek; Badamjav, Lkhagvasuren; Bayarbaatar, Buuveibaatar; Dejid, Nandintsetseg & Fisher, Kim [Show all 28 contributors for this article] (2019). Central Asian Mammals Migration and Linear Infrastructure Atlas. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). UNEP/CMS. Show summary

  This report provides a comprehensive overview on how and where different types of linear infrastructure affect large mammals in the wider Central Asian region. Wide-ranging large mammals, such as the ten species covered by the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI) and considered for this report, depend on open and interconnected landscapes for their well-being and ultimately their survival. Fences, railroads, roads as well as pipelines and canals can have significant negative impact on those species, fragmenting their habitat, isolating populations, preventing access to essential resources such as forage and water, and causing direct injuries and mortality (see Chapter 3). The rapid construction and planning of new infrastructure and transportation systems in most of the eight CAMI Range States that were considered for this report will put additional pressure on already threatened and endangered species. This report contains maps of each species’ distribution range combined with the different types of linear infrastructure, which clearly show where and what types of conflict exist or can be expected (see Chapter 4). Fences are the type of infrastructure that is most problematic for all species. The design of the fence often determines whether - and which - species can cross it. Fences, for instance along railroads in Mongolia, constitute a complete barrier for Asiatic Wild Ass, Saiga Antelopes, Goitered and Mongolian Gazelles as well as Wild Camel. Several fences along national borders prevent essential transboundary movements of a number of species such as Saiga Antelopes, Asiatic Wild Ass, Goitered Gazelles, Argali and Wild Camel. Railroads such as the Trans-Mongolian Railway or the Trans-Kazakhstan Railway cut through the range areas of Saiga Antelopes, Asiatic Wild Ass and Mongolian Gazelles. Double-track and high-speed trains as well as high and steep embankments increase the likelihood of railroads hindering the animals’ movements and act as a complete barrier. Roads can either act as barrier or cause direct mortality: while movements of Asiatic Cheetah do not seem to be affected by roads, the species is frequently involved in car accidents, causing significant mortalities in Iran. Local and unpaved roads have least negative effect, which however significantly increases with traffic volume, speed or type of traffic. Pipelines have a negative disruptive effect during their construction phase but are then mostly covered underground and have therefore less significant effects. Canals potentially act as a complete barrier but few canals are found in the current range of the species and are therefore of less immediate concern. However, those potential negative effects need to be taken into account when new canalsystems are being planned.

• Kaczensky, Petra; Linnell, John Durrus; Zuther, Steffen; Salemgareyev, Albert R. & Doldi, Ruslan (2018). Reintroduction of kulan into the central steppe of Kazakhstan: Field Report for 2017. Norsk institutt for naturforskning. ISSN 978-82-426-3190-9. 1459(1459). Show summary

  This report summarises field activity during 2017 for the project “Reintroduction of kulan to the central steppes of Kazakhstan”. (1) In June 2017 the project team visited both the capture site in Altyn Emel National Park and the release site on the Torgai steppe. The objective was to make final preparations for the planned capture and transport of kulan in the autumn. The main activities included planning the location of the capture corral, checking the helicopter and design of transport boxes, and making final adjustments to the acclimatisation enclosures. In addition, meetings were held with the local protected area staff and the central responsible committee in Astana. (2) A series of interviews were conducted with local residents in the release site to get some insights into their attitudes towards kulan and their reintroduction. These indicated that people were generally positive or neutral to the proposed activities, but identified several areas where it will be necessary to focus our communication. These results were then used to fine-tune an education and outreach campaign primarily aimed at local school children and residents. (3) A rapid assessment was conducted of kulan status in Barsa Kelmes nature reserve on the former Aral Sea, which also included the collection of faecal samples for genetical analysis. This area represents a potential source of animals for future translocations as well as being important to consider within the context of a national kulan conservation plan. (4) In October 2017 the project team successfully captured 47 kulan in the capture corral in Altyn Emel. Of these, 12 were immobilised and boxed for transport. Two adult mares were released back into Altyn Emel because of adverse stress reactions. Both animals survived and are con-tributing valuable data on the ecology of the source population. Out of the 10 that were trans-ported, 1 foal had to be euthanised on arrival. The other 9, 1 stallion, 4 foals and 4 mares, were released into the largest acclimatisation enclosure and are currently doing well, pending their release in spring 2018. The experience from 2017 has demonstrated that all steps of the process, capture, transport and release into the enclosures work well, and has identified many areas where improvements can be made to procedures for the 2018 transport which will try to transport 16-18 animals. KEY WORDS : Asiatic wild ass, kulan, Equus hemionus, reintroduction, Kazakhstan, NØKKELORD : asiatisk villesel, kulan, Equus hemionus, gjeninnføring, Kasakhstan

• Kaczensky, Petra; Doldin, Ruslan; Enke, Dag; Linnell, John Durrus; Lukanovsky, Oleg & Salemgareyev, Albert R. [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2017). Feasibility study for kulan (Equus hemionus kulan) reintroduction into the central steppe of Kazakhstan. Norsk institutt for naturforskning. ISSN 978-82-426-3085-8. 1366(1366). Show summary

  Asiatic wild ass, or kulan (Equus hemionous), were once a key species in the assemblage of large herbivores (along with saiga antelope, several gazelle species and wild horses) that ranged the Eurasian steppes, stretching from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean to Mongolia. Overhunting and habitat conversion has since decimated their populations and nowadays they can only be found on less than 3% of their historic global distribution range. While it is still possible to see large herds of kulan in the Gobi desert of Mongolia, the species only persist in tiny fragments in the rest of Central Asia. The end of the USSR resulted in dramatic socio-economic changes in the region. While some of these changes have been negative for species conservation, e.g. through the breakdown of management structures that prevented overhunting, others have created new opportunities for landscape-level biodiversity conservation and species recovery. In Kazakhstan, large parts of the central steppe – an area equal to the size of France – became almost devoid of people and livestock. This situation has created the rare opportunity for land-scape-level biodiversity conservation and species recovery in a steppe ecosystem. In 2005, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (ADCI), a large-scale joint initiative of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and international partners was initiated. The ADCI aims to conserve and recover nationally and internationally important flagship species and their habitats in the steppe and semi desert zones of Kazakhstan. This project links into the ADCI vison and aims to 1) Re-establish kulan as part of the historic large herbivore assemblage on the Torgai steppe, 2) Double the range of kulan in Central Asia, 3) Significantly increase the global population, 4) Provide a catalyst for kulan and Przewalski’s horse conservation actions across the region. This feasibility study focusses on the first fully funded three-year pilot phase, which is meant to establish a solid basis for the future conserva-tion and management of kulan on the central steppe of Kazakhstan. The project involves a co-operation between several international partners (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Nuremberg Zoo, Frankfurt Zoological Society) and a Kazakh NGO (Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan). In October 2017 & 2018, we will capture a total of 32-36 kulan in Altyn Emel National Park in south-eastern Kazakhstan and airlift them to the Torgai steppe using a large transport helicopter. There, kulan will be initially held in two large acclimatization enclosures (“soft release”) to famil-iarize them with the new environment and suppress excessive dispersal. The release site is strategically located in a network of protected areas and ecological corridors covering 40,000 km². All adult kulan will be released with GPS-Iridium collars to allow post-release monitoring. Post-release monitoring will be integrated in ongoing monitoring and patrolling routines by protected area and state rangers. KEY WORDS : Asiatic wild ass, Kulan, Equus hemionus, reintroduction, Kazakhstan NØKKELORD : Asiatisk villesel, Kulan, Equus hemionus, gjeninnføring, Kasakhstan

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