Reindeer Herder in Northern Mongolia 🇲🇳 Mongolia’s Tsaatan Reindeer... Herders; a diminishing nomadic tribe who live in the depths of the Taiga in northern Mongolia are one of last groups of nomadic reindeer herders in the world. There about 400 Dukha people of 70-80 families live in communities, usually a group of two to seven households. Mongolian reindeer people life is completely dependent on the Reindeer they herd, often moving their small encampment tepees 5-10 times a year in search of suitable weather and moss for the reindeer. This vast region is home to several thousand square kilometres of natural habitat classified as taiga (boreal forest) located within the Shishged River watershed of Altai-Sayan mountains (largest mountain range in southern Siberia) and provides home range for the world’s southern-most indigenous reindeer population and their herders – Tsaatan. Mongolia’s Tsaatan reindeer herders are Mongolia’s smallest ethnic minority – a community of nomadic reindeer herders with strong shamanist beliefs. Originally from Tuva in Siberia, they have historically inhabited the border region of Russia and Mongolia. Ethnically, community identifies as Dukha, but their lifestyle as reindeer herders earned them the Mongolian name Tsaatan, which means roughly ‘with reindeer.’ At the end of 20th Century Mongolian reindeer number decreased drastically from 2280 to 616. Thanks to the number of organizations, individuals, foundations, as well as Mongolian government contributed the Dukha tribe to keep their traditional way of life and increase the reindeer head. Mongolian reindeer herder Tsaatans proudly celebrated the 2000 Reindeer Festival in August 2019. Indeed, Mongolia reindeer number reached 2690 by 2020. Tsaatans use the reindeer as the main way of transportation such as travel for hunting, the collection of firewood, as a pack animal for seasonal migrations, visiting relatives and friends, and traveling to the town for shopping and trade. Reindeer milk is part of Tsaatans' staple food from which they make cheese, milk tea, butter, and yogurt. A reindeer gives 96-100 liters of thick and rich milk during the milking season. Tsaatans occasionally eat reindeer meat, but overall they prefer to increase the reindeer number instead of slaughtering. Tsaatans or Dukha people begin training reindeer for riding when the reindeer are two years old ridden by children because the adults are too heavy to ride the two-year-old. However, ridden by adults at age of three when reindeer are strong enough. During the nomadic movement, the male reindeer usually carry loads weighing about 40 kg while females carry up to 30 kg. When the weather is cooler, the reindeer are vigorous and healthy. Dukhas usually settle down at an altitude of 2300 m above the sea level, but 1800 m in winter where they can be sheltered and avoid the frigid winds. Snow is not an obstacle for reindeer to find and eat moss because they can dig in the snow with their hooves and find moss easily. The young males are castrated after mid-September when the weather cools down. The end of September to early October is a mating season for reindeer. The gestation period for a reindeer is about seven months. Monthly, Mongolian government has been granting some amount of money both for adults and children in the community. Another source of income is tourism but it covers a few of the households depending on their encampment locations. Though, eco-friendly travel is vital. They randomly sell the reindeer or its skin. Instead, hunt in the mountains in autumn for winter food. Tsaatans have the closest relation with nature and know how to use the herbs and plants for medicinal purposes or food. Surplus medicinal plants, berries, and pinecone nuts are sold in the nearby towns or bartered in exchange for food and clothes. They, also catch fish spearing them with long poles. 🎥© mongolempire_ (IG) #archaeohistoriesshow more
