Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
This site is contiguous with Khan-Khentii Strictly Protected Area (MN055), and the two sites are similar. Gorkhi-Terelj National Park supports large areas of forest steppe and
mountain steppe, with alpine habitats on higher peaks. The site is located close to Ulaanbaatar, so many tourists visit tour camps, and urbandwellers organise day trips during weekends. Threats to biodiversity include poaching, forest fires, pollution and disturbance to wildlife and its habitats from uncontrolled tourism. Many permanent structures and tour camps have been built within the national park, which are contributing to overgrazing and land degradation at the site.
Globally Threatened species found at the site include Saker Falcon Falco cherrug (EN), Lesser Kestrel F. naumanni (VU) and Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (VU). Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus (NT) also occurs. The site supports an assemblage of
species restricted to the boreal forest (taiga) biome, including Black-billed Capercaillie Tetrao parvirostris, Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula, Eurasian Pygmy-owl Glaucidium passerinum and Rufous-tailed Robin Luscinia sibilans.
Non-bird biodiversity: Over 50 species of mammal, fi ve reptiles, four amphibians and 30 fish have been recorded at the site, as well as more than 200 species of insect. Rare and threatened species found at the site include Siberian Musk Deer Moschus
moschiferus (VU), European Elk Alces alces, Red Deer
Cervus elaphus, Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Wolverine
Gulo gulo (NT), Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx, Pallas’s Cat
Felis manul (NT), Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (NT) and
Taimen Hucho taimen.
Fully protected by Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (Mongolia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gorkhi-terelj-national-park-iba-mongolia on 23/12/2024.
