The idea of opening the center was proposed by employees of the Ministry of Ecology operating in the Osh region. They provided numerous examples demonstrating the seriousness of the existing problem. According to them, there are cases where information about injured animals is received, as well as instances of illegal keeping or attempts to sell animals listed in the Red Book. In such situations, the question arises about where to place these animals, and they are most often transferred to the zoo in the city of Osh, which does not engage in rehabilitation and returning animals to the wild.
NABU Kyrgyzstan already manages a rehabilitation center in the Kemin district of the Chui region, where injured wild animals from all over the country are brought. Here, they are treated, their health is restored, and then they are returned to their natural environment. Previously, species such as lynx, bear, and badger have been successfully returned to the wild.
However, transporting injured animals to this center from remote regions requires significant costs, both in terms of time and finances. In this regard, the creation of a joint rehabilitation center for the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken regions was discussed.
During the meeting, the importance of raising public awareness to prevent illegal hunting was also emphasized, as well as the need for regular joint raids to combat poaching. Meeting participants stressed that involving journalists in such raids and their coverage in the media could lead to more significant results, and an agreement was reached on this issue.
In conclusion, the head of NABU Kyrgyzstan, Tolkunbek Asykulov, thanked all participants for their cooperation and presented ecological gifts prepared by the organization.
