Researchers from the Mongolia Program Office of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have found that Mongolian gazelles migrate and roam across areas far larger than those used by domestic sheep, underscoring the importance of preserving extensive habitats for the species’ survival.

The study compared the movement patterns of Mongolian gazelles with those of grazing sheep and revealed significant differences in how the animals use the landscape. While sheep tend to graze within relatively limited and stable areas, Mongolian gazelles were found to occupy territories between five and 10 times larger as they move in search of food and suitable habitat.

The research was based on data collected between 2006 and 2007, a period when Mongolia’s livestock population had not yet exceeded the carrying capacity of pastures and when roads and other infrastructure were far less developed than they are today. During the study, researchers fitted three Mongolian gazelles and four sheep with GPS tracking collars and monitored their movements over the course of a year.

The results showed that the three gazelles traveled across areas ranging from 1,676 to 3,990 square kilometers. In contrast, each sheep grazed within a much smaller range of approximately 225.4 to 403.4 square kilometers.

According to the researchers, the analysis of historical tracking data confirms that Mongolian gazelles depend on vast, interconnected landscapes that are considerably larger than those used by domestic livestock. They noted that the findings provide valuable insight into the ecological requirements of the species and will help scientists assess changes in the distribution and habitat of the Mongolian gazelle, one of the country’s rare and ecologically significant wild animals.