Life in the Taiga: The Last Nomads of Mongolia

🌲The Tsaatan, also known as the reindeer people, live in the far north of Mongolia in the icy taiga.

❄️There are only about 200 Tsaatan left, and their traditional lifestyle is at risk of disappearing.

🚐Reaching the Tsaatan involves a long expedition, often traveling in old Russian off-road vans from the 60s.

🐴In the taiga, there is no longer a road or path, and only a few Mongolian riders can find their way around.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦The Tsaatan families split up during the winter, with the children going to school in the nearest village.

What is the taiga?

—The taiga is a vast subarctic forest that stretches across Northern Europe, Asia, and North America.

How many Tsaatan are left?

—There are only about 200 Tsaatan people left in the world.

What challenges do the Tsaatan face?

—The Tsaatan face challenges due to climate change, the modern world encroaching on their traditional lifestyle, and the need to send their children to school.

How do the Tsaatan travel to the village?

—The Tsaatan often travel to the nearest village by reindeer, as the terrain is too difficult for vehicles.

What language do the Tsaatan speak?

—The Tsaatan speak a rare language called Tuvan, which is also spoken by some communities in Siberia.

00:21The Tsaatan are a group of people known as the reindeer people who live in the far north of Mongolia in the icy taiga.

01:17Reaching the Tsaatan involves a long expedition, often traveling in old Russian off-road vans from the 60s.

02:42In the taiga, there is no longer a road or path, and only a few Mongolian riders can find their way around.

09:13The Tsaatan families split up during the winter, with the children going to school in the nearest village.

19:14The modern world has been catching up with the Tsaatan, and the Mongolian government requires all children to attend school.

25:18The Tsaatan families have to split up during the winter, with the children and their mothers going to the village where the school is located.

29:28The Tsaatan families prepare to leave their camp and make the journey to the village.

30:40The Tsaatan families separate, with some members staying in the taiga and others going to the village.