diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/api.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/api.lua
index 852bfd8afb..235453918c 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/api.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/api.lua
@@ -186,15 +186,6 @@ function mobs:register_mob(name, def)
 
 	mobs.spawning_mobs[name] = true
 
-	local can_despawn
-	if def.can_despawn ~= nil then
-		can_despawn = def.can_despawn
-	elseif def.spawn_class == "passive" then
-		can_despawn = false
-	else
-		can_despawn = true
-	end
-
 	local function scale_difficulty(value, default, min, special)
 		if (not value) or (value == default) or (value == special) then
 			return default
@@ -219,7 +210,6 @@ function mobs:register_mob(name, def)
 		do_custom = def.do_custom,
 		jump_height = def.jump_height or 4, -- was 6
 		rotate = def.rotate or 0, --  0=front, 90=side, 180=back, 270=side2
-		lifetimer = def.lifetimer or 57.73,
 		hp_min = scale_difficulty(def.hp_min, 5, 1),
 		hp_max = scale_difficulty(def.hp_max, 10, 1),
 		xp_min = def.xp_min or 0,
@@ -338,6 +328,8 @@ function mobs:register_mob(name, def)
 		projectile_cooldown_min = def.projectile_cooldown_min or 2,
 		projectile_cooldown_max = def.projectile_cooldown_max or 6,
 		skittish = def.skittish,
+		lifetimer_reset = 30, --30 seconds
+		lifetimer = 30, --30 seconds
 		--end j4i stuff
 
 		-- MCL2 extensions
@@ -347,7 +339,7 @@ function mobs:register_mob(name, def)
 		ignores_nametag = def.ignores_nametag or false,
 		rain_damage = def.rain_damage or 0,
 		glow = def.glow,
-		can_despawn = can_despawn,
+		--can_despawn = can_despawn,
 		child = def.child or false,
 		texture_mods = {},
 		shoot_arrow = def.shoot_arrow,
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/ai.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/ai.lua
index 66b24fcaaa..5295060640 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/ai.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/ai.lua
@@ -696,6 +696,19 @@ mobs.mob_step = function(self, dtime)
 		return false
 	end
 
+	--despawn mechanism
+	--don't despawned tamed mobs
+	if not self.tamed then
+		self.lifetimer = self.lifetimer - dtime
+		if self.lifetimer <= 0 then
+			self.lifetimer = self.lifetimer_reset
+			if not mobs.check_for_player_within_area(self, 64) then
+				--print("removing in MAIN LOGIC!")
+				self.object:remove()
+				return
+			end
+		end
+	end
 
 	--color modifier which coincides with the pause_timer
 	if self.old_health and self.health < self.old_health then		
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/environment.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/environment.lua
index f81cba6fc9..fe77305b0d 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/environment.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/environment.lua
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ local minetest_get_item_group = minetest.get_item_group
 local minetest_get_objects_inside_radius = minetest.get_objects_inside_radius
 local minetest_get_node_or_nil = minetest.get_node_or_nil
 local minetest_registered_nodes = minetest.registered_nodes
+local minetest_get_connected_players = minetest.get_connected_players
 
 local vector_new = vector.new
 local vector_multiply = vector.multiply
+local vector_distance = vector.distance
 
 local table_copy = table.copy
 
@@ -214,4 +216,22 @@ mobs.teleport = function(self, target)
 			return
 		end
 	end
+end
+
+--a function used for despawning mobs
+mobs.check_for_player_within_area = function(self, radius)
+	local pos1 = self.object:get_pos()
+	--get players in radius
+	for _,player in pairs(minetest_get_connected_players()) do
+		if player and player:get_hp() > 0 then
+			local pos2 = player:get_pos()
+			local distance = vector_distance(pos1,pos2)
+			if distance < radius then
+				--found a player
+				return(true)
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	--did not find a player
+	return(false)
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/set_up.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/set_up.lua
index 1fee55217d..5f55d344a8 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/set_up.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/mob_functions/set_up.lua
@@ -5,21 +5,15 @@ local minetest_settings                     = minetest.settings
 -- get entity staticdata
 mobs.mob_staticdata = function(self)
 
---[[
-	-- remove mob when out of range unless tamed
-	if remove_far
-	and self.can_despawn
-	and self.remove_ok
-	and ((not self.nametag) or (self.nametag == ""))
-	and self.lifetimer <= 20 then
-
-		minetest.log("action", "Mob "..name.." despawns in mob_staticdata at "..minetest.pos_to_string(self.object.get_pos(), 1))
-		mcl_burning.extinguish(self.object)
-		self.object:remove()
-
-		return ""-- nil
+	--despawn mechanism
+	--don't despawned tamed mobs
+	if not self.tamed then
+		if not mobs.check_for_player_within_area(self, 64) then
+			--print("removing SERIALIZED!")
+			self.object:remove()
+			return
+		end
 	end
---]]
 
 	self.remove_ok = true
 	self.attack = nil
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/spawning.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/spawning.lua
index f885d55c7e..39736e9d00 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/spawning.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api/spawning.lua
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ local table_remove   = table.remove
 
 
 -- range for mob count
-local aoc_range = 32
+local aoc_range = 48
 --[[
 
 THIS IS THE BIG LIST OF ALL BIOMES - used for programming/updating mobs