VICE SPEAKER RECEIVES FOUNDATION HEAD FOR PROTECTION FOR TAKHI

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ A Vice Speaker of Parliament N.Enkhbold received on Tuesday Ms. Inge Bouman, a citizen of the Netherlands and head of the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Horse; Mr. Piet Wit, a member of the board of Khustai National Park Trust; and other officials. During the meeting, the Vice Speaker granted the Polar Star Order to Ms. Bouman, and the Friendship Medal to Wit. They are awarded with the state prizes pursuant to a decree of the State Head of Mongolia for significant contributions to acclimatizing takhi (Przewalski's Horse) and expanding the Mongolia-Netherlands cooperation. "40 years ago, I saw takhi first time when I was going to a zoo. In that time, this animal was becoming one of the endangered species, and only about 270 takhis were remained worldwide, and the saddest news about extinction of takhi in Mongolia made me devastated. Now, number of takhi has reached 270 heads in Mongolia alone. I am really proud of myself and our colleagues for the works to breed the animal," Ms. Bouman said. She thanked Mongolia for awarding the state prize, and expressed her satisfaction with launching a 20-year project to be co-implemented with Mongolia. In the years 1992-2000, the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Horse acclimatized a total of 84 takhis in Khustai National Park, Tov aimag, and also conducted the research works for the acclimatization with own financing. Every year, the scientists conduct many research works under the scholarship named after Jan Bouman, spouse of Ms. Bouman. From 2008, the Foundation also has been rendering assistance of USD 10,200 to rural people living around the Khustain Nuruu National Park. Moreover, the Foundation established in 2009 a contract on rendering a non-refundable aid of 20,000 dedicated to protect and study takhi as well as the eco-system of the National Park. This aid will last for 20 years in accordance with the contract. B.Khuder