Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

🇲🇳 Mongolia

🐐 Siberian Ibex Roams Gobi's Vast Steppes
🌍 #274 Global · 2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #27 in Asia #23 in Desert & Scrub
Central Asia, Mongolia 456 spp. recorded

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park is a vast protected region in southern Mongolia, spanning sweeping desert basins, gravel plains, and the dramatic rocky precipices of the Altai Mountains. Unlike monotonous sandy deserts, this high-altitude dry expanse combines towering cliffs with sparse scrublands, creating a rugged refuge for specialized Central Asian wildlife.

43.761° N   101.060° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Gobi Racerunner ★
LC

Gobi Racerunner

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Eremias przewalskii

30–40% · Possible
Snow Leopard ★

Snow Leopard

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Uncia uncia

Insufficient data
Goitered Gazelle ★
VU

Goitered Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Gazella subgutturosa

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Tuvan Toad-headed Agama
LC

Tuvan Toad-headed Agama

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Phrynocephalus versicolor

70–80% · Very likely
Mongolian Pika

Mongolian Pika

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ochotona pallasi

60–70% · Likely
Siberian Ibex
NT

Siberian Ibex

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capra sibirica

50–60% · Likely
Mongolian Jird
LC

Mongolian Jird

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Meriones unguiculatus

40–50% · Likely
Horned Lark
LC Endemic

Horned Lark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eremophila alpestris

40–50% · Possible
Alashan Ground Squirrel
LC

Alashan Ground Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Spermophilus alashanicus

30–40% · Possible
Tolai Hare
LC

Tolai Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus tolai

30–40% · Possible
Domestic Bactrian Camel

Domestic Bactrian Camel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Camelus bactrianus

30–40% · Possible
Isabelline Wheatear
LC

Isabelline Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe isabellina

30–40% · Possible
Long-eared Hedgehog
LC

Long-eared Hedgehog

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Hemiechinus auritus

30–40% · Possible
Argali
NT

Argali

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis ammon

20–30% · Possible
Mongolian Toad
LC

Mongolian Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Strauchbufo raddei

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Snow Leopard ★

Snow Leopard

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Uncia uncia

Insufficient data
Goitered Gazelle ★
VU

Goitered Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Gazella subgutturosa

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mongolian Pika

Mongolian Pika

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ochotona pallasi

60–70% · Likely
Siberian Ibex
NT

Siberian Ibex

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capra sibirica

50–60% · Likely
Mongolian Jird
LC

Mongolian Jird

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Meriones unguiculatus

40–50% · Likely
Alashan Ground Squirrel
LC

Alashan Ground Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Spermophilus alashanicus

30–40% · Possible
Tolai Hare
LC

Tolai Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus tolai

30–40% · Possible
Domestic Bactrian Camel

Domestic Bactrian Camel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Camelus bactrianus

30–40% · Possible
Long-eared Hedgehog
LC

Long-eared Hedgehog

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Hemiechinus auritus

30–40% · Possible
Argali
NT

Argali

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis ammon

20–30% · Possible
Mongolian Gazelle
LC

Mongolian Gazelle

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Procapra gutturosa

20–30% · Possible
Asian Wild Ass
NT

Asian Wild Ass

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Equus hemionus

20–30% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

20–30% · Possible
Siberian Jerboa
LC

Siberian Jerboa

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Allactaga sibirica

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Horned Lark
LC Endemic

Horned Lark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eremophila alpestris

40–50% · Possible
Isabelline Wheatear
LC

Isabelline Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe isabellina

30–40% · Possible
Isabelline Shrike
LC

Isabelline Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius isabellinus

20–30% · Possible
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
LC

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer montanus

20–30% · Possible
Saker Falcon
EN

Saker Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco cherrug

20–30% · Possible
Desert Wheatear
LC

Desert Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe deserti

20–30% · Possible
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

20–30% · Possible
Ruddy Shelduck
LC

Ruddy Shelduck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tadorna ferruginea

20–30% · Possible
Pallas's Sandgrouse
LC

Pallas's Sandgrouse

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Syrrhaptes paradoxus

10–20% · Possible
Bearded Vulture
NT

Bearded Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gypaetus barbatus

10–20% · Possible
White-winged Snowfinch
LC

White-winged Snowfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Montifringilla nivalis

10–20% · Possible
Asian Short-toed Lark
LC

Asian Short-toed Lark

Bird

Alaudala cheleensis

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Gobi Racerunner ★
LC

Gobi Racerunner

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Eremias przewalskii

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Tuvan Toad-headed Agama
LC

Tuvan Toad-headed Agama

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Phrynocephalus versicolor

70–80% · Very likely
Halys Pit Viper
LC

Halys Pit Viper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gloydius halys

Insufficient data
🦎 No photo available

Alashan Pitviper

Reptile

Gloydius cognatus

Insufficient data
Even-fingered Gecko
LC

Even-fingered Gecko

Reptile

Alsophylax pipiens

Insufficient data
Multi-ocellated Racerunner
LC

Multi-ocellated Racerunner

Reptile

Eremias multiocellata

Insufficient data
Mongolia Rock Agama
LC

Mongolia Rock Agama

Reptile

Paralaudakia stoliczkana

Insufficient data
Mongolia Racerunner
LC

Mongolia Racerunner

Reptile

Eremias argus

Insufficient data
Steppe Rat Snake
LC

Steppe Rat Snake

Reptile

Elaphe dione

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Mongolian Toad
LC

Mongolian Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Strauchbufo raddei

20–30% · Possible

Animal Events

🦎

Gobi Racerunner Trails

JulAug

The Gobi Racerunner, a small endemic lizard, becomes highly active during the summer heat, darting across rocky outcrops and sandy flats.

Gobi Racerunner
LC

Gobi Racerunner

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Eremias przewalskii

30–40% · Possible
🦌

Snow Leopard Tracking Expeditions

May

May marks the best opportunity to track Snow Leopards in the park's rugged mountains, as they descend to lower elevations following prey like Siberian Ibex.

Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Uncia uncia

Insufficient data
🦌

Goitered Gazelle Migrations

AprMayJun

During spring, large herds of Goitered Gazelles migrate across the Gobi’s open plains, grazing on fresh vegetation and creating a dynamic wildlife spectacle.

Goitered Gazelle
VU

Goitered Gazelle

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Gazella subgutturosa

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
Gobi Racerunner
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
Snow Leopard
0–10
0–10
0–10
0–10
20–30
<5
<5
<5
<5
0–10
0–10
0–10
Goitered Gazelle
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
20–30
10–20
40–50
70–80
40–50
40–50
Tuvan Toad-headed Agama
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
Mongolian Pika
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Siberian Ibex
50–60
40–50
50–60
70–80
40–50
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
70–80
50–60
50–60
Mongolian Jird
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
70–80
40–50
40–50
Horned Lark
30–40
80–90
70–80
70–80
40–50
40–50
40–50
20–30
0–10
<5
<5
60–70
Alashan Ground Squirrel
30–40
30–40
30–40
70–80
40–50
40–50
20–30
30–40
10–20
30–40
30–40
30–40
Tolai Hare
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
Domestic Bactrian Camel
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
30–40
0–10
20–30
40–50
40–50
20–30
30–40
30–40
Isabelline Wheatear
<5
<5
<5
20–30
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
<5
<5
<5
<5
Long-eared Hedgehog
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
40–50
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
Argali
20–30
60–70
20–30
40–50
30–40
30–40
0–10
0–10
0–10
20–30
20–30
20–30
Mongolian Toad
20–30
20–30
20–30
10–20
20–30
30–40
30–40
20–30
0–10
20–30
20–30
20–30
Animal Events
🦎 Gobi Racerunner Trails
🦌 Snow Leopard Tracking Expeditions
🦌 Goitered Gazelle Migrations

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Moderate
🐐 Siberian Ibex Roams Gobi's Vast Steppes

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
353
🐒 Mammals
83
🦎 Reptiles
19
🐸 Amphibians
1
456 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
23 Threatened 9 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
44%
📊
Coverage (98 species at ≥5% of 456 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
21%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 mammal, 2 reptile, 2 bird)
47% Global avg
67%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
64
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
8
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
5
⚖️

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