Kyrgyzstan races to save endangered steppe gazelles

Conservationists aim to rebuild gazelle population near Lake Issyk-Kul, but funding cuts threaten future of rewilding effort

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (MNTV) — Conservationists in Kyrgyzstan have launched a major project to reintroduce the endangered goitered gazelle to the southern shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, aiming to restore both the species and the ecological balance of the region.

Led by local organizations including the Argali Public Fund, Ilbirs Fund, and the Gulistan farm, the project marks the first large-scale attempt to reestablish this graceful herbivore in its former habitat. 

Uzbek news outlet The Times of Central Asia reported that the species was once common in the Issyk-Kul region, but populations collapsed after the 1930s due to poaching and habitat loss.

The goitered gazelle, native to Central Asia and parts of the Middle East, is listed in Kyrgyzstan’s Red Book of endangered species. 

The new initiative adopts a “soft release” approach, allowing the animals to first acclimate and breed in semi-free conditions before being released into the wild. The method is designed to improve survival rates and ease adaptation.

Currently, a herd of 43 gazelles is being raised at Gulistan farm, with the number expected to grow to 60 by year’s end. 

The first group of 25 is scheduled for release in 2025, with 15–20 animals to be added each year. Organizers hope the wild population will reach 500 within a decade, provided anti-poaching efforts are successful.

Beyond species recovery, the gazelles serve a vital ecological role. They consume invasive thorny and toxic plants, helping regulate vegetation and supporting predators like wolves and snow leopards. 

Their return is expected to enhance biodiversity and strengthen the broader ecosystem.

Officials also see the project as a boost to Kyrgyzstan’s growing ecotourism sector. Issyk-Kul, a major tourist destination, could attract more visitors through wildlife safaris and guided tours. 

President Sadyr Japarov has emphasized the importance of curbing illegal hunting and promoting wildlife as national heritage rather than game.

The reintroduction aligns with wider regional conservation trends. In Kazakhstan, the saiga antelope population has surged from just 39,000 in 2005 to nearly 2.8 million in 2024—about 99% of the global population. Like the gazelle initiative, that recovery was driven by scientific planning, enforcement, and international support.

Kyrgyzstan has also emerged as a leader in snow leopard conservation. 

Through habitat preservation, anti-poaching patrols, and local awareness campaigns, the country has committed to protecting this apex predator. In December 2023, President Japarov declared the snow leopard a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan.

Yet the momentum behind these projects is now at risk. 

The recent suspension of USAID support to environmental programs threatens the future of many initiatives. 

Ecologist Askar Davletbayev from the Institute of Biology under the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences told TCA in January 2025 that 90% of their conservation funding relied on international aid.

“The Kyrgyz government has limited funds, so both NGOs and ministries turn to external donors,” Davletbayev said. “Most projects will likely shut down. 

For example, I received USAID and UNDP funding to restore gazelle populations. I purchased and bred the animals, but now I don’t know where we’ll find the money to continue.”

Despite funding uncertainty, conservationists remain committed to saving the goitered gazelle and revitalizing Kyrgyzstan’s unique natural habitats. 

The project represents both a symbol of ecological renewal and a test of long-term sustainability amid shifting global donor priorities.