In 2003, the population was estimated to consist of 19,000-20,000 individuals (B. Lkhagvasuren, pers. comm.), but is declining due to exploitation, a decline inreproductive rates, and habitat loss/degradation. Generation length has been estimated as tenyears, based on data from Nowak (1991). The off-take rate via illegal hunting may be as manyas 3,000 individuals per year (Wingard and Zahler, 2006). This would result in a 5% declineper year and over a 20 year period could result in a greater than 60% decline. The populationis known to have declined and a population reduction of at least 50% over the next threegenerations is inferred. Therefore this species is categorised as Endangered under CriterionA4abd. As the adjacent population in China does not appear to be expanding, the chance of any 'rescue' effect is small, so the assessment remains unchanged following application ofregional criteria.