The last major refuge for Tibetan antelope, where poaching reduced herds 90% before armed patrols restored populations. Now numbering 150,000.
Philip Sclater, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The third pole
Hoh Xil, Mongolian for "Blue Ridge," is an immense, isolated region on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. With an average elevation of over 4,500 meters, it is one of the largest and highest plateaus on Earth. The climate is extreme, with year-round sub-zero average temperatures that can fall to -45°C. This environment, often called the "Third Pole," is largely free of human impact, creating a unique sanctuary for high-altitude wildlife. The reserve covers 45,000 square kilometers and was designated a national nature reserve in 1995, later becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7, 2017.
The harsh conditions have promoted a distinct biodiversity. Over a third of the plant species and all the native herbivorous mammals are endemic to the plateau. The reserve hosts more than 230 wildlife species. This includes significant populations of wild yak (Bos mutus) and Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang). The global population of wild yaks is estimated at 10,000 to 20,000 individuals, and Hoh Xil is an important habitat for them. The Tibetan wild ass, or kiang, has a global population estimated between 60,000 and 70,000, with a large portion residing in China. The plateau pika, a small burrowing rodent, is a food source for the local brown bears.
The shahtoosh crisis
The most famous resident of Hoh Xil is the Tibetan antelope, or chiru (Pantholops hodgsonii). This species became endangered due to massive-scale illegal poaching in the 1980s and 1990s. The animals were hunted for their extremely soft and warm underfur, known as shahtoosh, a Persian term meaning "king of fine wools." This wool cannot be sheared; it must be stripped from the hide of a killed animal. It takes the underfur of three to five adult antelopes to produce a single shawl, which can sell for as much as $20,000 internationally.
The demand for these luxury items caused the Tibetan antelope population to plummet from nearly a million at the start of the 20th century to fewer than 75,000 by the mid-1990s. In response, China established the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in 1997 specifically to protect the antelope. Anti-poaching patrols were organized to combat the illegal hunting. These efforts have been successful; no poaching gunfire has been reported in Hoh Xil since 2009. The population of Tibetan antelopes in the reserve has recovered to over 70,000. Hoh Xil secures the complete migratory route for the antelope, with tens of thousands of females migrating to calving grounds like Zhuonai Lake each year.
💡Fun Facts
To survive the cold, the wild yak's shaggy hair can form a long "skirt" that reaches the ground.
The international trade in shahtoosh has been banned under CITES since 1979, giving the Tibetan antelope the same protection status as tigers and elephants.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, completed in 2006, was specifically designed with 33 passages to avoid disrupting the Tibetan antelope's migration routes.
The Tibetan wild ass, or kiang, is the largest species of wild ass.
The reserve is accessible, but entry into the core uninhabited area requires special permits. Viewing is generally done from the perimeter.
Admission
Free, but travel costs and permits for specific zones may apply.
Accessibility
The terrain is a high-altitude steppe. The best way to view the area is by chartering a vehicle along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (G109) that runs along the reserve's eastern edge. Independent travel into the core zone is not advised due to the extreme and dangerous conditions.
