One Health Mongolia
A CIC Flagship Initiative
One Health is a worldwide integrated and holistic approach to address health threats at the animal-human-environmental interface, championed by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
The CIC and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) kicked off the process to build Mongolia’s One Health Programme in 2022, organising a series of capacity-building workshops that brought state, civil and local stakeholders together as part of an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and practices.
It is here, amidst the rolling steppes and mountain ranges of Mongolia, that wildlife and herding communities live side by side, their fates inextricably linked. As the nomadic herders guide their livestock through changing seasons, they also share the land with some of the world’s most endangered species—creatures that are vital not only to the ecosystem but to the cultural heritage of Mongolia itself.
However, this delicate balance is increasingly threatened. Zoonotic diseases such as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease are pushing wildlife populations, such as the iconic Mongolian Saiga and Argali sheep, toward crisis. These outbreaks not only devastate animal populations but also threaten the livelihoods of Mongolia’s nomadic herders, who depend on livestock for their way of life.
In response to these pressing challenges, Flying Vets Mongolia was launched by the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) in 2022. Grounded in the One Health approach, the project aims to tackle the intertwined health of wildlife, humans, and the environment. Through disease surveillance, community-based capacity building, and sustainable management, Flying Vets Mongolia empowers local com- munities to protect both their heritage and their future.
The project brings together veterinarians, conservationists, and local herders to address the urgent threat of wildlife diseases. By equipping communities with the tools and knowledge to detect and report outbreaks early, Flying Vets Mongolia is building a sustainable response network— one that safeguards both endangered species and the people who live alongside them. It’s a model of conser- vation that works from the ground up, ensuring that solutions are rooted in local knowledge and needs.
From the Argali sheep to the snow leopard, these species are more than just symbols of Mongolia’s wilderness— they are key to the survival of the ecosystems that herders depend on. Flying Vets Mongolia is about more than treating disease; it’s about forging a future where both wildlife and people can thrive together.
As CIC looks ahead, the success of Flying Vets Mongolia offers valuable lessons for future One Health initiatives in other regions of the world, including Europe and Africa. With Mongolia as the first of many pilot areas, the project continues to break new ground in integrating wildlife conservation with human livelihoods, making a tangible difference on the ground.
10:1 ratio
of Mongolian people to livestock
64% of herder
households reported using dried