thumb|250px|Goats that died as result of a "black" zud. [[Gobi Desert, March 2010.]]
A zud, dzud (), dzhut, zhut, djut, or jut (, , ) is a periodic disaster in steppe, semi-desert and desert regions in Mongolia and Central Asia (including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan)
One-third of Mongolia's population depends entirely on pastoral farming for its livelihood,
Description
In Mongolia, the following types of zud are recognized:
- tsagaan (white) zud results from high snowfall that prevents livestock from reaching the grass. It is a frequent and serious disaster that has caused a great number of deaths.
- khar (black) zud results from a lack of snowfall in grazing areas, leading to both livestock and humans lacking water. This type of zud does not occur every year, nor does it affect large areas. It mostly happens in the Gobi Desert region.
Man-made factors
Human factors worsen the situation caused by the harsh winters. Under the communist regime, the state regulated the size of the herds to prevent overgrazing. The 1990s saw a deregulation of Mongolia's economy and a simultaneous growth in worldwide demand for cashmere wool, which is made from goat hair. As a result, the number of goats in Mongolia has increased significantly. Unlike sheep, goats tend to damage the grass by nibbling at its roots; their sharp hooves also damage the upper layer of the pasture, which is subsequently swept away by the wind. This leads to desertification. Additionally, climate change has resulted in snowier winters and stronger droughts, both of which contribute to harsher and more frequent zuds. was surpassed in the 21st century.
The arctic oscillation in both 1944–45 and in 2010 was pushed much deeper into Central Asia, bringing prolonged extreme cold weather. In 1999–2000, 2000–2001, and 2001–2002, Mongolia was hit by three zuds in a row, in which a combined number of 11 million animals were lost.
During the winter of 2009–2010, 80% of the country's territory was covered with a snow blanket of . In the Uvs aimag, extreme cold (night temperature of ) remained for almost 50 days. 9,000 families lost their entire herds while a further 33,000 suffered 50% loss. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry reported 2,127,393 head of livestock were lost as of 9 February 2010 (188,270 horse, cattle, camel and 1,939,123 goat and sheep). however, by May 2010, the United Nations reported that eight million, or about 17% of the country's entire livestock, had died.
The zud of winter 2023–2024 was particularly substantial with 2 million animals dead by late February, which had increased to 5 million by late March, and to a total of 7.1 million animals by early June, representing over 10% of the country's livestock population.
Notes
References
- Zud Natural Disaster, Prevention and Recovery by Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia