I hear it's lovely in Mongolia this time of year

Plus: FUZZ debuts our first animal-specific newsletter.

Pssssttt… We’re soft-launching our very first animal-specific newsletter this week, Pazi’s Pallas, focused on the manul, or Pallas cat. You can meet the manul that started it all or learn more about what’s to come. Pazi’s Pallas is authored by the human behind the world-famous Instagram account, and I’m really excited about everything they have planned!

Subscribe for free at http://pazi.fuzz.net and stay tuned for more animal-specific newsletters in the future.

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Into the world's last great grassland wilderness

I'm about to set out to one of Earth's last great grassland wildernesses — Mongolia's Eastern Steppe. At over 110,000 square miles (more than twice the size of New York State), this vast ecosystem of rolling hills, pristine wetlands and treeless plains is home to a remarkable array of wildlife that has adapted to survive in one of the planet's most extreme environments.

While I'm primarily going to help the Manul Working Group (our January FUZZ Funds recipient!) check their Pallas cat camera traps, the steppe hosts an exceptional cast of supporting characters, even in winter.

What I might see this trip, in addition to our manul friends:

• Mongolian gazelle in their smaller winter groups (though still part of a 2-million-strong population that rivals Africa's great migrations)

• Grey wolves, which are actually more active in winter as they track the gazelle herds

• Corsac foxes in their thick winter coats, adapted for the brutal cold

The Corsac fox, in a warmer time of year. | Лариса Артемьева, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The region’s many cranes and the giant river trout will have to wait for the summer trip. The birds have migrated to cooler climbs and the trout are huddled beneath the ice, conserving energy for spring.

Mongolia’s remoteness and traditional nomadic herding practices have helped preserve this ecosystem - about 200,000 herders still dot the landscape, their low population density and cultural respect for nature leaving wildlife the space they need to thrive. But new challenges are emerging: expanding livestock numbers (up 140% in just five years), new roads and railways that block ancient migration routes, and a changing climate that's hitting Mongolia faster than almost anywhere else on Earth.

It'll be a 34-hour journey just to get to Ulaanbatar, and then hours more of riding with our Mongolian driver into the steppe. February temperatures can plummet to -40°F at night, which helps explain why manuls have evolved the longest and densest fur of any cat species. While many researchers (much less newsletter authors) avoid the steppe during these brutal winter months, that's exactly why it’s a unique chance to understand how animals on the steppe survive.

I'll have a lot of time to photograph wildlife and to learn about this very unique corner of our planet. But I want to know what you're curious about, too — drop me a note or leave a comment with what you'd like me to gather in Mongolia. This newsletter is the most fun for me — and hopefully you! — if it feels like I can be your eyes and ears in a new place.

And if you’ve been to the steppe and have any last-minute travel advice, let me know that too. :)

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Quick links! 🔗

• Ocean researchers just tagged what they're calling the largest male great white shark ever documented in the Northwest Atlantic. Named "Contender," he measures 13.8 feet and weighs an estimated 1,653 pounds. While that's impressive, what's more interesting for science is that he'll be tracked for the next five years, providing valuable data about migration patterns. You can actually follow Contender's movements online - he's already traveled nearly 200 miles since being tagged last month.

• The deadly bird flu outbreak has now reached New York City's zoos. Officials confirmed that around 15 birds have died at the Queens and Bronx zoos, including collection animals and wild birds like a red-tailed hawk and great horned owl. More tests are pending. The outbreak underscores how interconnected our ecosystems are — from wild birds to zoo collections to commercial operations, highlighting why monitoring wildlife health is crucial for both conservation and public health.

• Some exciting news about bringing parrots back to the wild - researchers in Brazil have achieved a 100% success rate reintroducing macaws using a technique borrowed from pet bird training. Rather than raising birds in cages until adulthood, they trained 90-day-old chicks using "free flight" methods similar to falconry. All six macaws released in 2022 are still thriving, even surviving wildfires that hit the region last year. It's a stark contrast to traditional reintroduction programs that often see 50% or higher mortality rates. The team thinks this approach could revolutionize parrot conservation, particularly for rehabilitating seized birds or supporting captive breeding programs.

Have a great start to your week. As always, you can reach me at dan@fuzz.net.