Great Gobi A

Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area is a nature reserve in Gobi desert, situated in the south-western part of Mongolia at the border with China. A similar reserve in the Gobi exists further to the west - the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area. Both reserves form one unit, the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (SPA), which encompasses a total of 53,000 km2. Great Gobi A is one of the last refuges for critically endangered animals, like wild Bactrian camels and Gobi bears. The reserve is an important refuge for some endangered large mammal species, such as the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), which was identified as a separate species in 2008 by the Veterinary University of Vienna, the Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis), the snow leopard (Uncia uncia), the argali wild sheep (Ovis ammon) and the Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus). Especially for the wild camel the reserve is important, since it is one of three last locations, where the rare animal can be found. Due to the remoteness and large size of the reserve, it is hard to estimate population numbers or population trends. Estimates for the population of wild camels in the reserve range from about 350 to 1950 individuals. Wolves (Canis lupus), which are also found in the reserve, might be a threat for the calves of wild camels. However, the effects of these predators on the camel population are unclear. Twenty km from the reserve is the wild camel breeding centre at Zakhyn Us, which was established in 2004 with 12 wild camels which had been caught by Mongolian herdsmen. There were 22 wild camels at the breeding centre in 2014 and in 2013 two bull wild camels were released into the reserve with satellite collars. One of them has formed his own herd with five female wild camels. The breeding centre which is financed by the Wild Camel Protection Foundation and administered by the Director of Gobi "A" covers 40 hectares. In 2008 the Veterinary University of Vienna confirmed after extensive DNA testing that the wild camel is a new and separate species which separated from any other known camel species over 750,000 years ago.

I was here! Raced a super jacked asian guy and won to the top of the dune :)

Very nice place

After spending a few days at Gobi small 'a', I figured why not, let's hit up the big "A." Just a few more days of walking and I was there. I will have to admit, after visiting small 'a', the big "A" is not quite as exciting. I was realy expecting a different atmosphere with better air and dirt, but it all looked the same. The dirt is a little brighter though. (Travel tip: bring sunglasses! Clouds do not exist here.) Accomodations were the same as little 'a' and the lack of any life for hundreds of miles is the trending themes in these small spots on the map. At any rate, if you are looking for a place to relax and maybe read a book by a dry river bed, this is your spot. Endless dirt, air, shrubs, and dust for miles for everyone... err, make that kilometers.

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