Our MSc student Martina Sihelská, supervised by Dr. Komárková and Dr. Fedorova, recently conducted fieldwork in the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area in Mongolia. She collected data for her thesis titled Behavioural Ecology and Social Dynamics of Wild Camels (Camelus ferus) in the Gobi A Desert (Mongolia) at the Zakhyn Us Wild Camel Breeding and Research Centre.
The wild camel is one of the rarest large mammals on Earth, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild across Mongolia and China. Despite its extraordinary resilience, it remains critically endangered and largely unknown. Research on its behaviour, habitat use and ecology is still limited.
Martina’s research combined behavioural observations using a predefined ethogram with spatial tracking of individuals, aiming to understand both activity budgets and social dynamics.
“For me, the camel represents everything admirable about desert life – endless endurance, strength, and tenderness. A truly unforgettable moment was witnessing the birth of a wild camel – the miracle of life in one of the most desolate places on Earth,” Martina shares.
Outside of research, she lived with local herders in traditional yurts, experiencing their generosity and warmth.
This opportunity was made possible through collaboration with Prague Zoo and the Wild Camel Protection Foundation, whose long-standing efforts to protect this species enabled this meaningful fieldwork.
