One of the subspecies of the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus), the Kulan (E. h. kulan) has suffered a huge population decline in the 1990's, mainly due to poaching activities and habitat loss. The Kulan population in Badkhys Preserve, Turkmenistan, has declined by approximately 90% in a three year period (source: Feh et al 2002), from a few thousand animals to only a few hundred.
In 2006 special anti-poaching activities were renewed thanks to support of LHNet. Withing Badkhys Preserve the animals are now safer, but the pressure outside the protected area (where Kulans concentrate in summer) is still very high.
Cooperation between government and nature conservation organisations to educate and involve the local people in the future is essential in order to save the Kulan from extinction, together with a management plan for the Kulan to re-establish and maintain its habitat and needed resources.