Photo Hunt in Kyrgyzstan
Photo Hunting in Kyrgyzstan – A Magnificent Vacation Without Harming Nature
Kyrgyzstan is a country of stunning mountains, where almost any corner is a complete scene for a photograph. The beautiful landscapes are impressive in themselves, and if you manage to capture a rare animal in your camera lens, the photograph will be extraordinary. The majesty of the mountains, their secrets and mysteries, the treasures of nature – all of this creates unique compositions of beauty, irresistibly attracting photography enthusiasts here. Despite its relative safety, photo hunting is considered almost as labor-intensive and interesting as regular hunting, so it is undoubtedly worth the effort, and the time spent on it will not be regretted. Most often, photo hunting tours in Kyrgyzstan are organized in mountainous areas – in the countless gorges around the Chui and Issyk-Kul valleys, in the hard-to-reach alpine zones of the Naryn region, at passes, and in remote forests and steppes. These are uninhabited, truly wild, and rugged areas, striking with their majestic beauty and the multitude of animals and birds that are unafraid of humans.
Through the camera lens, you may encounter ibex, lynxes, and snow leopards, wolves, and Tien Shan bears, mountain partridges, and vultures. However, perhaps the most luxurious "prey" for a photo hunter could be a photograph of the rare mountain leopard. There are only a few excellent photos of this majestic, beautiful animal in the world, which rightly earns the title of the ruler of the mountains of Central Asia. Snow leopards live only high in the mountains, where the ecosystem has not yet been disrupted by human encroachment. There are very few leopards left, and today they are listed in the Red Book, making hunting them strictly prohibited. However, capturing a snow leopard on camera is something that no one can prevent you from doing – if, of course, such a rare opportunity presents itself. Snow leopards are dangerous predators, and photographing them is quite challenging, but possible. They have excellent hearing and sense of smell but can only see in two colors – white and dark. To photograph a snow leopard, you need to remain motionless in ambush for a considerable time from the downwind side, so the predator does not catch your scent or notice your movements. The same rules apply when photo hunting for roe deer, wild boars, and ibex, which are abundant in the Kyrgyz mountains.
Ibex are a special pride of Kyrgyz nature. They are found only in the Central Asian mountains, and their numbers are also dwindling. These are powerful, beautiful wild goats with saber-shaped horns. The horns of the males are particularly magnificent – curved and evenly tapering. Male ibex can weigh up to 150 kg, but despite their strength, they are quite cautious, making a photograph of an ibex in its natural habitat a very prized capture. Another unique four-legged creature that can be photographed in the Kyrgyz mountains is the beautiful Pamir argali, or Marco Polo sheep. This is the largest of all wild sheep on Earth – its weight exceeds 150 kg, and the length of its horns can reach up to 170 cm! Along with snow leopards, argali with their magnificent spiral horns are considered the most valuable trophy for any photo hunter.
