Deadly 'dzud' in Mongolia claims over 7 million livestock lives

An extreme weather phenomenon known as the dzud has killed more than 7.1 million animals in Mongolia this year, endangering herders’ livelihoods and way of life. Dzuds used to occur once in a decade but are becoming harsher and more frequent due to climate change. Thousands of families have lost over 70% of their herds, impacting Mongolia's nomadic herding economy. The dzud highlights the interconnectedness of climate change, poverty, and the economy, emphasizing the need for herders to diversify their incomes to mitigate livestock losses.