News
Steppe 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 MoreNature’s pharmacy on the steppe: medicinal plants of Kazakhstan
Our recent article marking World Wildlife Day 2026 highlighted the important role of medicinal and aromatic plants in ecosystems and human well-being, touching briefly on Kazakhstan’s rich flora. Here, we take a closer look at three of the country’s medicinal species—common wormwood, licorice, and sea buckthorn—representing just a few of the many plants that play…
Read MoreTugai recovery gains momentum with record 2025 plantings
In 2025, Kazakhstan accelerated the restoration of tugai forests in the southern Balkhash–Ili delta, thanks to a record-breaking number of plantings. Tugai forests—riparian woodlands that function as vital “oases” along rivers in Central Asia’s arid regions—are central to the country’s tiger reintroduction and rewilding program, which aims to revive Southern Balkhash ecosystems and create thriving…
Read MoreNature’s pharmacy on the steppe: celebrating World Wildlife Day 2026
World Wildlife Day, observed each year on March 3, is a United Nations–designated occasion that celebrates the diversity of life on Earth and underscores the importance of protecting it. This year’s theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,” highlights the essential roles these plants play in human well-being, cultural traditions, and…
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…
Read MoreRecent trade decisions are the next test for saiga antelope
Oh, the remarkable resilience of the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica)! Over recent decades, this flagship species of the Eurasian steppe endured precipitous declines in populations driven by mass mortality events and human-induced pressures, bringing it to the brink of extinction in Kazakhstan. Yet, through the sustained efforts of governments, scientists, local communities, and international conservation…
Read MoreJust another day in the life of a wildlife biologist!
Manul Working Group (MWG) partners recently deployed six camera traps in Kazakhstan’s Altyn Emel National Park, an effort to help monitor the manul in the country’s southeastern region. Altyn Emel rangers joined the fieldwork, guiding specialists through the park and assisting with logistics. These are the first camera traps in Altyn Emel placed specifically to…
Read More2026 will mark another milestone for tiger restoration in Kazakhstan
Siberian Tiger at Zurich Zoo; Wikimedia commons; Photo credit: albinfo; GNU Free Documentation License, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License In the first half of 2026, Kazakhstan’s Amur tiger reintroduction program will reach another pivotal milestone with the planned arrival of a small group of tigers from Russia. Between January and June, three to four Amur tigers are expected to…
Read MoreKulans at Altyn Dala released into the wild
Kazakhstan’s Asiatic wild ass (kulan) reintroduction program has reached another milestone with the late summer release of animals from the Altyn Dala acclimatization enclosure into the wild. After nearly a century of absence in this region, the kulans are once again roaming free across the Torgai steppe of central Kazakhstan. For the past year, the…
Read MoreFall 2025 migration update: young steppe eagles take flight
As part of Kazakhstan’s fall 2025 migration season, nine juvenile steppe eagles began their journeys to wintering grounds in western Kazakhstan in September, marking the young birds’ first migrations. Eight eagles moved westward toward the Caucasus along the Afro-Eurasian Flyway, while one individual, named Klyuvik, headed south across the border into Uzbekistan. Scientists from the…
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