RECENT HISTORY AND STATUS OF THE MONGOLIAN GAZELLE IN INNER-MONGOLIA,CHINA

In 1994 and 1995 the authors studied Mongolian gazelle Procapra guttur osa populations in Inner Mongolia, China, conducting interviews and ma king field observations in eight counties along the national boundary between Mongolia and China. Mongolian gazelle distribution was estimat ed to cover approximately 73,152 sq km, which was only 25.2 per cent o f that in 1950-70. The adult male:female sex ratio was 1:4, and the av erage herd size 923.3 individuals in November/December 1994 and 23.1 i n March/April 1995. The gazelles regularly migrate from Mongolia into China from October onwards and return to Mongolia in late February. Hu nting is a major threat to the survival of the species.