Mongolia is facing a devastating environmental crisis as extreme winter conditions, known as dzud, have wiped out over 2.1 million livestock this season. With temperatures dropping to -50°C and heavy snowfall blocking grazing pastures, animals are succumbing to starvation and exhaustion. 🥶
The UN warns climate change is intensifying these events, making dzuds—once rare—increasingly frequent. Mongolia has endured six such disasters in the last decade, including 2022’s 4.4 million livestock losses. This year, a summer drought worsened the crisis, leaving animals too weak to survive winter.
For Mongolia’s nomadic herders, livestock losses threaten livelihoods and cultural traditions. Over 64 million animals roamed the country last year, sustaining families and fueling the economy. Now, many face an uncertain future as snow blankets the steppe. ❄️
Experts urge global attention to Mongolia’s plight, linking it to broader climate challenges. As one herder told local media: ‘The land is merciless now.’ Could this crisis be a wake-up call? 🌍
