- "In order to restore and ensure the full reproduction of biological diversity of the animal world, as well as to effectively protect them considering the interests of current and future generations, this Law establishes a ban on hunting in the Kyrgyz Republic," states the presented draft. - "The ban established by this Law is in effect until 2030, prohibiting hunting of all species of wildlife—wild animals and birds—in a state of natural freedom and semi-free conditions throughout the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. The provisions of this article do not apply to measures for regulating the population of wolves, foxes, and jackals."
During this time, public relations in the field of hunting and hunting management will cease. According to the law's developers, hunting management is akin to poaching and provokes it.
- "By shooting the best and largest individuals, so-called trophy animals, hunters inevitably reduce the genetic diversity of the population, causing irreparable harm to the gene pool of species, especially by exterminating males in the most productive age," they emphasize.
The draft has been submitted for public discussion. Meanwhile, wildlife is protected by the law "On Hunting and Hunting Management," adopted in March 2014. As practice has shown, it is incapable of protecting rare, endangered, or threatened species listed in the Red Book. It does not contain a direct ban on the shooting of Red Book animals and birds. The impotence of the current law and the need for a moratorium was confirmed by the killing of a Red Book snow leopard by a resident of the Issyk-Kul region on the day the draft law was submitted for public discussion. Hunting this animal is prohibited, as it is listed in the International Red Book and the Red Book of the Kyrgyz Republic, and is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. There are only about 300 snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan.
The man confessed that he killed the ibex in the evening, mistaking it for a wolf. However, upon realizing his mistake, the hunter did not report it to anyone, but skinned the animal, carefully removing the valuable pelt, which is worth between 20,000 and 50,000 US dollars, and separated the head. On his way from the hunting site, he was detained. Now, for the killing of the animal, he faces a fine of 500,000 soms or imprisonment for up to three years. Additionally, the poacher will be deprived of his hunting license. The chief specialist of the Issyk-Kul representation of the Department of Rational Use of Natural Resources of the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry, Tologon Usenbaev, was personally acquainted with the criminal and claims that the man is an experienced hunter and could not have mistaken the species of the animal; moreover, he would have immediately reported the mistake.
- "The police are preparing documents for submission to the court, including we have sent reports about the license and the fine for the killing. Regardless of the court's decision, he will be deprived of his hunting license. The detained individual is a member of our representation, but not an employee; do not confuse. Many amateur hunters help us, particularly in hunting wolves. But this case is the first in my practice," he noted in response to journalists' questions.
As a punishment for the destruction of the symbol of the Kyrgyz Republic, the district prosecutor's office is considering the possibility of tightening the punishment for the act of poaching in this specific case.
It is worth noting that on social networks in the republic, the killing of the snow leopard caused much less outrage than the arrival of a dolphinarium in Bishkek or the act of a foreigner who referred to the national horse sausage chuchuk as a horse penis.