Wildlife
Kazakhstan welcomes a new generation of Przewalski’s horses
Two Przewalski’s horse foals have been born on Kazakhstan’s steppe, marking a major milestone in the country’s effort to restore the world’s last surviving wild horse to part of its historic range.The births took place at the Alibi Reintroduction Center in Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve, where reintroduced horses are being acclimated before release into…
Read MoreVeterinary painkillers pose threat to central Asian vultures
Vultures are misunderstood creatures, often viewed with disgust. Nonetheless, these underappreciated birds perform one of nature’s most important sanitation services, removing carcasses before they decay and helping to prevent the spread of infectious disease. By rapidly stripping carcasses, vultures reduce opportunities for dangerous bacteria and other pathogens to spread, their highly acidic stomach juices destroying…
Read MoreSteppe eagle global action plan approved at UN meeting on migratory species
Things are looking up for migratory species, the result of recently concluded UN meetings in Brazil. At the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), held from 23–29 March 2026, governments approved or upgraded action plans and expanded protection for dozens of migratory species worldwide. Among…
Read MoreKazakhstan crowns Bird of the Year: the common blackbird
The common blackbird (Turdus merula) was named Kazakhstan’s bird of the year, securing 65 percent of the vote organized by the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan. Its only rival was the mallard duck, which it surpassed by a wide margin. Also known as the Eurasian blackbird or black thrush, this medium-sized…
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