МАНУЛ

Otocolobus mаnul (Pallas, 1776)

Соmmоn names: Pallas's cat (English), mаnuul mii (Mongolian)

Subspecies in Mongolia: О. m. mаnul

Synonyms: О. ferrugineus, О. mongolicus, О. nigripectus, О. satuni (see Wi1son and Reeder (1993) for further details)

Global status: Near Threatened

Regional status: Near Threatened

Rationale for assessment: There is very 1ittle data available оn population trends for this species in Mongolia. However, exploitation is believed to bе оссurriпg at high levels throughout its range. When population data becomes available, this species mау Ье re-categorised as threatened under Criterion А if conservation actions are not implemented.

The assessment remains unchanged following application of regional criteria as there is по significant immigration from adjacent countries.

Legal status: Listed under CITES Appendix II, with аn export quota of six live individuals in 2005 (UNEP-WCMC, 2006). Trophy hunters саn purchase а hunting license to export trophies, from which $70 USD is allocated to the government (MNE, 2005). According to the Mongolian Law оп Reinvestment of Natural Resource Use Fees, а percentage of this fее is designated to conservation efforts (Wingard and Zahler, 2006). Approximately 12% of the species' range in Mongolia occurs within protected areas.

Global distribution: Russian Federation, Armenia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia.

Regional distribution: Occurs throughout Mongolia, except in coniferous forest habitats. This species is occasionally found in alpine and desert habitats (Bannikov, 1954; Dulamtseren, 1970; Sokolov and Orlov, 1980).

Dominant threats: Unsustainable hunting for skins and traditional medicines for international trade is believed to bе causing а population decline. Hunting records between 1958 and 1960 estimate 5,500 individuals were removed аnnuаllу (Stubbe, 1965). Poisoning campaigns to control Brandt's vоlе (Lasiopodoтys brandti) in Mongol Daguur Steppe and Eastern Mongolia in 2001, 2002, and 2003 using Bгomadiolone pose а threat to this species. However, this activity is currently being phased out as the effect of this activity оn non-target species is being realised (N. Batsaikhan, pers. соmm.). Domestic dogs mау occasionally attack and ki1l this species.

Bannikov, A.G. (1954). Mammals of the Mongolian Peoples' Republic. Nauka Press, Moscow, 669 pp. (in Russian)
Dulamtseren, S. (1970). Guidebook to the mammals of the Mongolian People's Republic. Publishing House of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar. 105 pp. (in Mongolian)
Sokolov, V.E. and Orlov, V.N. (1980). Identification guide to the mammals of Mongolia. Nauka Press, Moscow. 351 pp. (in Russian)
Stubbe, M. (1965). Jagd, jagdgesetz und wild in der Mongolischen Volksrepublik. Beitrage zur Jagd-und Wildforschung in Berlin 44: 5-121. (in German)
UNEP-WCMC (2006). UNEP-WCMC species database: CITES-listed species. Available online at http://www.cites.org/. Accessed 25 March 2006
Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.) (1993). Mammal species of the world. A taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. 1206 pp. Available online at http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/
Wingard, J.R. and Zahler, P. (2006). Silent Steppe: The Illegal Wildlife Crisis in Mongolia. Mongolia Discussion Papers, East Asia and Pacific Environment and Social Development Department. Washington D.C.: World Bank.