Kazakhstan’s Zoos Enrich Wildlife with Exotic Species

The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has announced that Kazakhstan’s state-run zoos are steadily expanding their animal collections, introducing species not typically found in the country.

Over the past five years, the nation’s three main zoos have welcomed a diverse range of animals, including three African lions, 13 Siberian tigers, three mountain cats, a jaguar, three caracal lynxes, two serval cats, two polar wolves, a polar bear, two white-handed gibbons, eight snow monkeys, two Madagascan cats, and several bird species such as cranes and parrots, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Most of these new arrivals come through exchange programs with other zoological parks, primarily within CIS countries.

Kazakhstan’s three state zoos are located in Almaty, Karaganda, and Shymkent. The Almaty Zoo is the largest, hosting 3,840 animals across 350 species, including many exotic species. Karaganda Zoo houses 368 animals from 97 species, while Shymkent Zoo accommodates 3,559 animals of 288 species.

In a notable conservation initiative, the first two Amur tigers were recently brought from the Netherlands to the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve, with plans for their cubs to be released into the wild.

The ministry also completed a successful kulan reintroduction program this year, relocating 67 kulans to strengthen populations in key reserves-43 to Ile-Balkhash and 24 to Altyn Dala-supporting the restoration of ungulate numbers in these protected regions.