The Mongolians are proud of their shepherds, who roam freely around the country with their millions of animals. Now they have to fear for their existence.
When the couple Sugurmaa and Dulbardach sit on the steps of their caravan in the morning, milk tea in hand, looking out at the rolling hills of the Mongolian steppe, they don’t like what they see. “Too little grass, too dry, too yellow,” says Sugurmaa. “It is not raining. We used to be able to stay here for a week, but now it’s two or three days at best. Then the pasture is eaten and we have to move on.” However, not at random, but well informed. Dulbardach gets in his car and goes to reconnoitre, hundreds of kilometers if he has to. “I’m looking for rich pastures, for wide, green areas. I follow friends’ advice. But it’s getting harder and harder.”