Tost Tosonbumba

Tost Tosonbumba Nature Reserve lies in Ömnögovi Province in the South Gobi and covers 7,284 km². It is dedicated to conserving the snow leopard and was declared a nature reserve in April 2016^[1].

The reserve is dedicated to conserving the snow leopard (Panthera uncia). An ecological study of snow leopards in the South Gobi began in 2009^[1].

The reserve lies in the South Gobi desert and mountain country of Ömnögovi Province, where vegetation is sparse and desert-adapted.

Tost Tosonbumba is made up of the rugged mountain ranges of the South Gobi, which rise from desert plains in Ömnögovi Province.

The South Gobi has an extreme continental desert climate, with very cold winters, hot summers and little rain.

The area is traditional herding land. After herders killed a snow leopard protecting their livestock, a livestock insurance programme was set up and a campaign for a government reserve followed. In 2010 the area had 37 mining licences^[1].

The area began as a local protected area in 2010 and was declared a nature reserve in April 2016, when all mining licences were revoked^[1].

The reserve has no developed attractions; its interest is its snow leopard population and mountain wilderness.

The nearest settlement is Gurvantes, about 40 km away. The reserve is remote, in the South Gobi.

Mining fragments habitat and pushes nomadic communities into snow leopard territory. After a campaign for stronger protection, all mining licences were revoked in 2016^[1].