Field work snapshot: improvements made to manul camera trap network

A team of researchers from the Manul Working Group and Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ACBK) recently completed the upgrade and maintenance of the manul (Pallas’s cat) camera trap monitoring network in central Kazakhstan, actions that will improve accuracy of population counts, expand understanding of the cat’s behavior, and shed additional insights…

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Kazakh Tazy gains preliminary recognition as official dog breed

The Kazakh tazy, one of the world’s oldest dog breeds, has achieved preliminary recognition as an official, independent breed by the International Canine Federation (FCI, Fédération Cynologique Internationale), a critical milestone in efforts to gain full international recognition as a distinct dog breed.  The decision represents a victory for Kazakh cynology (regional term for zoology-based…

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Summer 2024 fieldwork – horses, birds, and bats, oh my!

We are nearing the half-year mark since we started this new chapter. During that time, we have established and strengthened relationships with partners in Kazakhstan, promoted wildlife-focused initiatives, and told stories about the region’s wildlife. Here are a few highlights: Przewalski’s horses: Homecoming In June we reported on the return of Przewalski’s horses to their…

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Przewalski’s horses return to Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe

Przewalski's horses running freely on an arid plain with low mountains in the background

The first week in June saw a wildlife and biodiversity conservation milestone, as seven Przewalski’s horses arrived in Kazakhstan, the first phase of the “Return of the Wild Horses 2024” project. Reintroducing the horses to one of their natural habitats, following a centuries-old absence, is part of ongoing efforts to establish a self-sustaining population in…

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Every species counts on Endangered Species Day!

Earth is home to countless species and landscapes. Unfortunately, human activities destroying habitats and overheating the planet have pushed many species into decline, breaking fragile and complex relationships within entire ecosystems. Thousands of animal species are also in steep decline in Eurasia, from the Saker falcon to the Pallas’s cat. This growing damage to ecosystems…

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Przewalski’s Horse to return to Kazakh steppe

Herd of 14 Przewalski's horses galloping through snow toward the camera

Plans are underway to reintroduce Przewalski’s horse, a genetic descendent of the Botai horses domesticated in Kazakhstan some 5,500 years ago, to Kazakhstan’s central steppes, following a more than 100-year absence from the country. Per terms of the multi-stakeholder agreement between government and zoological entities in Kazakhstan, Czechia, Germany, and Hungary, the horses will be…

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Adopt a Camera for the Pallas’s “Grumpy” Cat

ABOUT THOSE FUZZY FELINES.  Also known as a “Manul Cat,” a name with roots in the Mongolian language, Pallas’s cats are characterized by their thick fur, big round ears, and grumpy expressions. Native to Central Asia, Pallas’s cats are elusive, hampering the calculation of accurate population counts.  Without more data, scientists struggle to know how…

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International Pallas’s “Grumpy” Cat Day – April 23

Manul trotting by against a rocky backdrop

Every dog has its day, or so the expression goes, but so do cats! Arguably one of the lesser-known animal holidays (and one of several cat calendar observances) is International Pallas’s Cat Day, an educational and conservation-oriented holiday observed on April 23.  Read on to learn more about the holiday’s honoree and support Pallas’s cat…

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Welcome, friend!

We are very excited to tell you about our new initiative: Eurasian Wildlife and Peoples. Our name points to our major focus – ecosystems, wildlife, and the wonderfully diverse peoples living across Eurasia. Our mission at Eurasian Wildlife and Peoples is to protect the interconnected web of life on our planet, reverse losses of wildlife…

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Experts in Samarkand, Uzbekistan warn migratory species in trouble

U.N. Report Paints Dire Picture for Migratory Species In February, together with Biodiversity Research on Conservation Center (BRCC) colleagues Director Jennifer Castner participated in the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species (COP-CMS) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 12-17 February 2024. Migratory species—mammals, birds, fish, and insects that…

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