Among the natural reserves of Kyrgyzstan, "Padysha-Ata" stands out for its beauty and was created to protect the unique juniper forests and Semenov firs. Its area is 30,556 hectares, of which 16,010 hectares are specially protected zones.
In terms of beauty, "Padysha-Ata" is second only to the "Sary-Chelek" reserve, and the sacred site located within its territory attracts many tourists.
There are special recreation centers within the reserve, where tourists can try kumis and mare's milk during the summer.
In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, Mavlyanov spoke about his work with the rangers aimed at protecting the flora and fauna of the reserve.
Two years ago, he began his career in the reserve as a firefighter, then became a ranger for three months, after which he was appointed as a senior researcher. "Our main task is to protect the animals and birds in the reserve and work on increasing their population. We observe that the number of wild animals grows each year. Every year we conduct a winter and spring count of the inhabitants of the reserve, using tracks to determine their numbers, as we do not have camera traps," he shared.
During the winter count, the rangers and foresters noticed an increase in the number of bears and ibex. "In winter, we completed a count that showed 273 ibex, 16 roe deer, 3 wild boars, 16 bears, and 5 snow leopards. To track animal movements, rangers sometimes have to climb to hard-to-reach areas. We notice that the population of some wild animals is increasing, although the number of roe deer has decreased, and there is an opinion that predators, including wolves, may be the reason for this. But the number of bears has increased," Mavlyanov noted.
There are 16 rangers working in the reserve, and recently they witnessed an unusual event when a snow leopard was seen eating an ibex. "During the population count, we found the tracks of the leopard and, following them, saw how it skillfully dealt with a large ibex," he shared. The snow leopard, which inhabits high-altitude areas, is a very strong predator, and although it is difficult to see it in the wild, some rangers have managed to observe it up close, but capturing the moment on video has proven difficult.
The work of the rangers is fraught with many challenges, especially in winter when they face large snowdrifts and dangerous areas. "Working in the mountains is not easy. Although each ranger has a horse, in some places passage is impossible. We often descend steep cliffs, and although it is dangerous, we try to fulfill our duties. Sometimes we have to spend the night in caves and freeze during cold winter nights, but we do not complain, as we love our work," the senior researcher explained.
Mavlyanov, who is now 52 years old, taught chemistry and biology at school for 23 years before working in the reserve. In 2018, he decided to move to the reserve to protect nature. "I want our descendants to be able to see this beauty. I was worried that wild animals were becoming fewer and that in time they would only be seen in books. But I am glad that the animal population is increasing. The more there are, the more tourists we can attract. In recent years, we have noticed that ibex are coming down to populated areas, and this is a good trend," he noted.
Since the early 2000s, two lakes have formed in the reserve as a result of tectonic activity. Mavlyanov believes that these lakes add extra beauty to the reserve. It is also noted that the waterfalls in this area were once visited by the companions of the Prophet.
The rangers have noticed that in recent years bears have been visiting populated areas more frequently, raising concerns about possible attacks on livestock. In the autumn, bears entered a plum orchard near the village and damaged several trees.
Shumkarbek Mavlyanov, along with his wife, has raised six sons.
