Aktan T. Mukhashov’s scientific contributions

This article presents facts of real conflict situations between herders and specially protected big cats (Persian leopard and snow leopard) in Central Asia and reviews possible ways of solving this problem in Kazakhstan based on the example of foreign experience.

This article provides information on the background, goals, objectives, timelines, sponsors, implementers, first results and prospects for further development of the international project for the study and conservation of the Persian leopard Panthera pardus tulliana in Kazakhstan. It presents for the first time the facts of discovery of at least four leopard specimens for the last 20 years in the territory of Mangistau region of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2022-2023, as well as the successful cooperation of the project team with the Border Guard Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, during which the first passages for ungulates -goitered gazelles and urials - were set up in the border wire fences on the sections of the state border of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan within the framework of the implementation of the obligations of the Kazakhstan under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The efficiency of the use of the passages by ungulates is confirmed by data from camera traps.

The Central Asian desert ecosystems are currently under intense anthropogenic pressure. They have unique ecological characteristics, supporting numerous species, including several species of wild cats, such as the Persian leopard (Pantherapardus tulliana), caracal (Caracal caracal), Asiatic wild cat (Felis ornata), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), sand cat (Felis margarita) and Pallas cat (Otocolobus manul). Still limited camera trap surveys conducted in the Kopetdag, Badhyz, Kaplankyr, Sunt Hasardag State Nature Reserves, Big Balkan range, areas on the Ustyurt Plateau in Turkmenistan as well as in Kazakhstan (Ustyurt State Nature Reserve and surrounding areas in Mangystau region) have provided some indication on the distribution of most of these cats species and the threats they face. The largest of these cats, the Persian leopard, is found in the Kopetdag mountains along the border with Iran and west of it in Badhyz State Nature Reserve, Sunt Hasar range and Big Balkan range with individuals traveling north along the Garabogaz-gol depression. Three leopard individualsl, likely from Turkmenistan, were recorded on the Ustyurt Plateau in Kazakhstan between in 2007, 2015 and between 2018 -2021. Human-wildlife conflict and retaliatory killing and poaching of the prey (Urial sheep and bezoar goat) are some of the threats facing the species together with the impermeability of long sections of the border fence with Iran and Kazakhstan especially, which severely limit connectivity for leopards and the prey they depend upon. Caracal have been recorded on the Ustyurt Plateau in Kazakhstan, in the foothills of the Kopetdag, near Mary as well as the Kaplankyr reserve. They seem to be more protected in Mangystau, where they are more easily recorded, including reproduction. In Turkmenistan, collision with vehicles has been reported as well as killing by hunting dogs. Jungle cat are found across the Kopetdag in southern Turkmenistan as well potentially in the desert areas in the north and riparian habitat in the foothills of Koytendag. In Koytendag is also where the only lynx population has been recorded. Pallas cat have been camera trapped for the first time in the Kopetdag reserve on three occasions between 2019 and 2020, as well as in the Big Balkan range in 2020. They have not been recorded in Mangystau, though according to historic records they used to be present. They are vulnerable to predation by guard and hunting dogs as well as habitat conversion. Pallas’s cats in Turkmenistan (and formerly in Mangystau) belong to a peripheral part of the Western Asian population (mainly inhabiting Iran), probably distinguishing as a subspecies Otocolobus manul ferrugineus. The nearest other (not-Iranian) records of the species are known in the distance 1500-1600 km east and north-east, in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Asiatic wild cats are widely distributed and of all cat species found in this region, they seem to show the greatest resilience. It is the only one cat species in the region we recognize no serious threats. It is unlike sand cats which have not been recorded in more than 30 years. The degradation of saxaul vegetation through logging and overgrazing has likely impacted sand cat habitat together with predation by hunting dogs. Further and more extensive studies are in need to better understand the status and ecology and threats of cat species, especially Persian leopard, Pallas cat, caracal and sand cat. However, with regard to Persian leopards, based on existing data we recommend establishing a protected area encompassing the Big Balkan range, an important leopard stronghold, and a wildlife corridor that includes the section of the Ustyurt plateau coasting the Garabogaz gol depression all the way to the border of Turkmenistan with Kazakhstan. We also recommend establishing a strict nature reserve in the Southern part of the Ustyurt in Kazakhstan, including the Kaplankyr chink, on the border between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, where caracal and the Asiatic wild cat are found, and where 50 years ago an Asiatic cheetah was last recorded (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus). The cheetah subspecies has since gone extinct but hinging on other future conservation efforts in the region, a reintroduction here could be envisaged.

The establishment of a protected area in the South Ustyurt Area of Kazakhstan is discussed and the status quo of the scientific work layed out in detail. The authors strongly recommend to establish a protected area in due time in order to preserve the pristine and intact desert ecosystems of the area.

Dear friends and colleagues, In the midst of the current global pandemic, I hope that you, your families and colleagues are safe and healthy. This crisis is heavily affecting our lives and work and I hope that you are managing to stay optimistic and keep a positive spirit in these difficult times. Alternative working arrangements are in place for the CMS Secretariat, with all staff working remotely until further notice. At least through 31 May 2020, no in-person meetings of CMS will be organized, and no staff will be able to travel on official meetings or missions. The situation is under constant review and we are also exploring the use of virtual platforms for external meetings of CMS Parties and partners. Much has happened since the last CAMI Newsletter was issued in September 2017, which makes this edition long and comprehensive. In the attempt to keep you informed and in line with the new CAMI Programme of Work, I aim at returning to sending out the Newsletter regularly twice a year (April/October). In order for the newsletter to reflect the many activities going on in the region, this edition includes contributions from the Species Focal Points and other stakeholders sharing information about relevant projects and developments in the region. The newsletter includes information on the recent CAMI Range State meeting as well as CMS COP13, which provided additional momentum to push for implementation of CAMI and its ambitious programme of work. We also want to inform you about our continued cooperation with the BfN, which includes another six workshops up until 2023, about the launch of the IUCN SOS Central Asia Programme, a funding mechanism to support the implementation of CAMI, results of a number of conservation projects in the region and much more. We thank all contributors and hope you enjoy reading! CAMI Coordinator

В отчете представлены результаты экспресс-оценки современного состояния биоразнообразия высших растений и позвоночных животных (амфибий, рептилий, птиц и млекопитающих) на Южном Устюрте в пределах Каракиянского района Мангистауской области Республики Казахстан, полученные в ходе комплексных экспедиционных исследований в 2017, 2018 и 2019 гг. в рамках реализации проекта CADI «Инициатива по пустыням Центральной Азии». Даны оценки некоторых антропогенных угроз для биоразнообразия данного региона и рекомендации по их компенсации, в том числе: негативное влияние пограничных проволочных заграждений на популяции копытных животных; массовая гибель птиц на воздушных линиях электропередачи средней мощности; браконьерская охота. Сделан вывод об особой ценности южной части плато Устюрт, включая чинк Капланкыр, как эталонного малонарушенного участка биома туранских пустынь с холодными зимами, являющегося ключевым местом обитания для целого ряда видов, занесенных в Красную книгу Республики Казахстан, в том числе, для джейрана, уриала и медоеда. Даны рекомендации по созданию здесь особо охраняемой природной территории республиканского уровня.

The article highlights new monitoring data on three vulture species: Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus); Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) – on the territory of Ustyurt State Nature Reserve in Kazakhstan; obtained during the second phase of the project on vulture supplementary feeding in 2018. The project is supported by the Rufford Foundation. The data obtained confirmed the numbers of breeding vultures within Ustyurt State Nature Reserve: 4 pairs of Cinereous Vulture and 2 pairs of Egyptian Vultures. During the implementation of the project; camera traps for the first time registered the presence of a Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) in the Ustyurt Reserve.

In Autumn 2018, a live Persian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor was recorded for the first time on a camera trap on the territory of the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve USNR (Mangystau Region, Kazakhstan). This is the fourth confirmed case of the appearance of a leopard in Kazakhstan, with three occasions in the Mangystau region and one occasion in Zhambyl region. Likely leopards come to Kazakhstan from neighbouring Turkmenistan. The article contains recommendations on further studies to identify whether other individuals are present in the area, the introduction of the leopard into the Red Book of Kazakhstan and on the expansion of the territory of the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve and its protection zone in order to preserve the entire desert ecosystem, including the Persian leopard.