Last week the MBDP team hit the road for the Gobi to visit some of our dogs placed over this passed year. This was my first time seeing livestock guardian dogs in action, not to mention I can cross another desert off my bucket list. it was a real joy for all of us to see our dogs happy and healthy – and sticking with their herd!
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- The vast Gobi is the coldest desert in the world. While much of it is flat and expansive, there are also rockier sections that punctuate the landscape.
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- Baavgai, an adolescent male bankhar near his herd.
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- A herder’s ger camp in the Gobi.
I don’t know what could be more rewarding than seeing our project coming to a nearly full circle. The four dogs we visited are only a little over a year old (not fully mature) and are already exhibiting some great protection behaviors. Part of this we can attribute to them being awesome, intelligent, special creatures; but perhaps more important is the commitment and hard work of the herders working with out project.
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- A herder’s ger camp from a hill top. You can see the haasha where the herd is kept at night. A sign of a successful guardian dog is that they sleep away from the ger, closer to the herd. We were pleased to see our dogs sleeping on the far side of the haasha!
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- Batbayer and his dog, Baavgai.
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- Batbaatar checking out a herder’s motorcycle. They are in common use in Mongolia but this one was especially fancy.
We are so grateful to them for believing and investing in the power of the bankhar and not only using our protocol, but adding to it and making this development of livestock guardian dogs their own. After all, our aim is for the project to be not just for the herders but by the herders.
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- Arslan barking at us to leave his sheep and goats alone!
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- Bankhar the bankhar (ok not the most creative name) walking ahead of her herd to their pasture.
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- Another one of Bankhar taking a walk-around while the herd drinks from a well.
This week is bitter-sweet for us. Greg, our project scientist for the last year and a half, is passing me the torch. He’s been helping me get used to life in Mongolia and showing me the ropes of the project for the passed month, and now it’s time for him to make it home in time for the holidays. Thanks for everything Greg! We’re missing you already!
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- Greg on a trip in Gobi. He got to see the fruits of his labors – some pups on the road to success!
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- Batbaatar and Greg watching the dogs and the herd from a distance so that we don’t interfere with their behaviors.
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- Enjoying the view.
