Mongolia Faces Catastrophic Winter Dzud, Losing Two Million Animals
Last Updated on March 4, 2024 1:45 pm
Mongolia is grappling with the aftermath of a severe winter dzud, an extreme weather event characterized by freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and frozen ground, making it challenging for livestock to access pasture grass. The dzud has claimed around 2.1 million head of livestock, resulting in severe consequences for Mongolia, where approximately one-third of the 3.3 million population relies on nomadic lifestyles and livestock for sustenance and economic livelihood.
Despite Mongolia’s familiarity with harsh winters, this dzud, following a dry summer and a similar event last winter, has proved devastating. The country, with 64.7 million head of livestock, depends on these animals for meat and cashmere production, a significant export. Gantulga Batsaikhan from the agriculture ministry reported deaths due to exposure, starvation, and exhaustion caused by extreme cold and the animals’ inability to break through ice and snow to feed.
The United Nations has highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of dzuds in Mongolia since 2015, attributing it to climate change and poor environmental governance. Over the past decade, Mongolia has experienced six dzuds, with the winter of 2010-11 marking the deadliest, resulting in the loss of around 10 million head of livestock. Last winter’s dzud claimed 4.4 million animals.
This year’s dzud is particularly concerning as it combines a ‘white’ dzud with exceptionally heavy snowfall (the heaviest since 1975) and an ‘iron’ dzud, representing frozen ground. Additionally, a drier-than-normal summer in 2023 left livestock with insufficient fat reserves for a harsh winter. Authorities and aid agencies fear that this winter might become one of the deadliest yet, with 70% of the country facing dzud conditions compared to 17% last winter. In response, the government has pledged support, launching a campaign to deliver fodder to herders and prevent further livestock losses.