Since the fall of communism in the 1990s, Mongolia has experienced a significant increase in livestock herding. Camels, cattle, sheep, goats, and horses number in the tens of millions. All these animals need to be able to graze, and it’s not surprising that to find this, the herders encroach on a territory that contains one of the world’s most dangerous predators. The snow leopard. The snow leopard can easily decimate a herder’s livestock, and in retaliation, herders have in the past killed snow leopards. This has only contributed to the scarcity of these beautiful creatures, with only a few thousand left; however, help is at hand from an unlikely source. During communism, to force nomadic peoples to settle, the keeping of their herding dogs was discouraged, and the dogs they used almost died out.
Unknown to the majority of people as a breed, they are undergoing a revival.
These are the legendary Bankhar dogs.
A male will weigh in at around 50-60 kilograms (110-132 pounds), and they are approximately 75 centimetres tall (30 inches) with a thick double coat. The colour is either red, black and tan. The most prized are the dark coloured ones with light spots above the eyes, making them easier to distinguish from wolves in poor light. These are known as the Mongolian Four Eyed Dog, which is supposedly blessed with the ability to see into the spirit world. While we are on the subject of names, this dog is also known as the Mongolian Wolfhound and Hotosho, which translates to “yard wolf”; it is considered to be a very distant relative of the Tibetan Mastiff. It is relatively long-lived for such a large dog, with a lifespan of 15-18 years. Interestingly, hip dysplasia is rare, likely because they are bred primarily for work and not for fashion.
They are an imposing sight with a temperament that is fiercely loyal and highly protective of their families and the livestock. Despite their impressive appearance and formidable reputation, they are often considered gentle and affectionate towards their owners. In the Mongolian language, the name Bankhar means fluffy, fat and chubby, but nothing could be further from the truth! Tangle with one of these and it won’t end well.
Where Bankhar dogs protect the herds, incidents of livestock killing are rare. Just as important is that, at the same time, there is no evidence of any killing of snow leopards.
The Bankhar has some unique characteristics. Apart from their massive, thick coat, they have tiny paws considering their size; thus, heat loss through their paws is minimal. Bizarrely, they appear to need fewer calories than other canines of a similar size, for instance, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog.
These dogs don’t round up the herd like a border collie, but gently move them, thus ensuring that the land is not over-grazed.
The Bankhar lives with the herd, and apart from being fiercely protective, they have two further mechanisms for keeping their charges safe. These dogs bark a lot, ensuring that any predator is aware of their presence, and the other is an invisible barrier of urine and pheromones.
Some herders claim they are unable to sleep in total silence as the noise reassures them that their animals are safe.
The dogs bring stability to the whole scene. With their presence, fewer animals are lost, so the herders don’t pursue the wild animals that are their predators. The herders don’t have to replace lost animals; therefore, they can maintain smaller herds with the same revenue, which is beneficial for the environment as they require less feed. It is a win-win situation.
Elders will tell stories about the heroic dogs from history that saved herds from storms and fires, and even today, it is common for the owners of these dogs to carry their bodies to the top of the nearest mountain so that they are closer to God.
Today’s quotation is a bit different; for some, this will be spiritual, and for others like me, it’s a great poem.
When God made the earth and sky
the flowers and the trees.
He then made all the animals
the fish, the birds and the beesAnd when at last He had finished
not one was quite the same
He said “I’ll walk round this world of mine
and give everything a name.”And so he travelled far and wide
and everywhere He went
a little creature followed Him
until it’s strength was spent.And when all were named upon the earth
and in the sky and sea
the little creature said “Dear Lord
there’s not one left for me.”Kindly the Father said to him
“I’ve left you to the end.”
I’ve turned my own name back to front
and called you dog, My friend.Anon
With subtitle or not?