As of May 2, 2024, over 7.1 million livestock have died in Mongolia due to extreme cold weather caused by the "dzud" (a Mongolian term meaning disaster).
This number exceeds one-tenth of the country's total livestock population, severely threatening the livelihood and traditional way of life of herders.
Chronic drought combined with severe winter snowstorms has made the dzud more frequent and severe, exacerbated by climate change.
According to a livestock census conducted by the Mongolian government at the end of last year, the country's livestock population was approximately 64.7 million.
In April, Mongolia's Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan stated that the total number of livestock deaths could rise to 14.9 million.
On February 22, 2024, a distressing scene in Mongolia showed a dog howling beside the dead bodies of sheep and goats amidst the cold weather.
Livestock is crucial for herders, with the livestock industry being a pillar of Mongolia's economy and central to its culture.
The livestock sector accounts for 80% of the total agricultural output and 11% of the country's GDP.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), during a dzud, temperatures can drop to -30°C or lower, accompanied by strong winds, heavy snow, and ice storms.
The winter of 2023-2024 saw record snowfall in Mongolia, the highest in 49 years, with up to 90% of the country’s land covered in thick snow at its peak.
Many livestock, especially malnourished female animals and their newborns, died during the spring birthing season, unable to withstand the persistent extreme weather.
The thick snow and ice made it impossible for livestock to find food, and the droughts during other times of the year meant there was insufficient feed to sustain them through winter.
Historically, dzud events occurred roughly once every decade, but due to climate change, they have become more frequent and severe.
This year marks the sixth and most severe dzud in the past decade.
The Mongolian national news agency Montsame reported that the extreme weather had caused livestock deaths to soar, with 2.1 million cattle, sheep, and goats dead by February.
By May, this number had risen to 7.1 million.
Mongolia’s Emergency Management Agency reported that between April 22-29, authorities organized the destruction and burial of 5.6 million livestock carcasses, aiming to complete the disposal of all dead animals by May.
Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan mentioned that the total number of livestock deaths might rise to 14.9 million, accounting for 23% of the country's livestock.
For Mongolia’s population of 3.3 million, livestock farming is vital.
The Mongolian constitution recognizes the nearly 65 million livestock as "national wealth."
According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), livestock and its products are Mongolia’s second-largest export, after mining.
Olga Dzhumaeva, head of the East Asia regional office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), stated, "The loss of livestock causes an irreversible blow to economic stability and exacerbates the already dire situation of the local people."
However, international aid has been insufficient. Dzhumaeva noted that a relief campaign launched by the IFRC in mid-March has yet to meet its $6 million goal,
not even reaching 20% of the target. She attributed the shortfall partly to budget constraints caused by crises in Ukraine and Gaza, although she acknowledged this was only a minor factor.
Mongolia needs both aid and measures to adapt to blizzards, such as improving weather forecasting and preventing overgrazing.
Herders also need to diversify their income to mitigate the impact of livestock losses.
As early as 2012, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme highlighted unprecedented challenges faced by Mongolia’s reindeer herders and their forest homes due to illegal mining, logging, water pollution, climate change, and tourism development.
The report recommended that the Mongolian government adopt strategies such as increasing the number of reindeer managed by herders, closely monitoring changes in land use, supporting the preservation of herders’ traditional culture, and promoting the sustainable development of the taiga forest.
Mongolia's livestock industry is central to its economy and culture. However, recent climate changes and frequent dzud disasters pose significant challenges to this livestock-dependent nation.
To better protect herders' livelihoods and traditional ways of life in future harsh winters, Mongolia needs to strengthen its disaster prevention and resource management capabilities, in addition to seeking international aid.
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