Zara Morris-Trainor from the University of Aberdeen, is doing her PhD research on the impact of cashmere production on wild prey and snow leopards in the the protected area of the Tost Mountain in the South Gobi. For the past few months she has been studying grazing patterns of domesticated ungulates, collecting survey's from the local nomads that live there and attempting to observe grazing patterns of wild ungulates and the territory of wild prey. Her goal is to familiarize herself with the Toast area and make a plan of action to help restore the pasture lands to a healthier state. The Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project was lucky enough to be accompanied by Zara a few months ago when we drove down to the Gobi to check on our pups. And she was lucky enough to see one of pups in action, guarding the sheep and goats. To learn more about Zara's research check out her blog, Goats and Gers. She has some amazing stories to tell and pictures to go along. Here are a few of her photo's from her trip with the MBDP...

The Golden Gobi...

 Can you spot out pup?

The pup is too far away in this picture but she's in there with the sheep!

Pictures by Zara Morris-Trainor