Adiya Yadamsuren is studying the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus ferus) in Mongolia, alongside our other camel EDGE Fellow, Yuan Lei, who is studying the Chinese population of the same species.

Adiya graduated from State Pedagogical University of Mongolia in 2000, where he also obtained his Master's degree. He is currently studying for a PhD focussing on the ecology and conservation of the wild Bactrian camel.  Adiya worked as a biologist in the Khovsgol National Park between 2000 and 2001, and has been involved in many different projects including carrying out national census’ of Gobi species such as the Wild Ass (Equus hemoinus) and Gobi bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus). Adiya has been affiliated to the Institute of Biology of the Mongolian Academy of Science as a research fellow since 2002, and has been studying the Bactrian camel since then, researching factors related to wild camel monitoring and conservation.

Adiya’s project aims to assess a number of threats to wild camels, including human hunting, hybridisation, grazing pressure in key habitats, water quality and availability, and the impact of illegal and legal mining activities. Adiya is also determine the habitat requirement of the wild camel by monitoring movements of herds of wild camel and conducting a vegetation study of the key habitats. Adiya developed a semi-structured questionnaire, and is interviewing herders and rangers to gather their knowledge and opinions regarding wild camels.

All the data Adiya collects will feed into a workshop that will establish a Conservation Action Plan for the Bactrian camel, and outline the steps necessary to ensure conservation of wild camels.