During the 1970s the populationsize was estimated at 60,000-80,000 in Mongolia(Dulamtseren, 1977). The Institute of Biology of theMongolian Academy of Sciences assessed the Mongolianpopulation size in 1986 over 53,000 hectares across 63units of six provinces, resulting in an estimate of 44,000individuals (Dulamtseren, 1989). The population size iscontinuing to decrease and in one observed population,densities fell from 1.2 per km2, to 0.2 per km2 between1990 and 2000 (Tsendjav and Bujinkhand, 2000; Tsendjav,2002). Generation length has been estimated as six yearsbased on data from Nowak (1991). As the causes of this decline, primarily exploitation, isexpected to result in a population reduction of at least 50% over the next three generations,Moschus moschiferus qualifi es as Endangered under Criterion A3d. Although there is apotential 'rescue' effect from populations in Russia, illegal hunting remains a dominant threatthere as well, therefore the assessment remains unchanged following application of regionalcriteria. This species should be reassessed as Critically Endangered if conservation efforts toreduce hunting are not applied.