This year, 35 gamekeepers and activists were awarded diplomas and prizes for their courage in 40 registered cases of violations. Since the beginning of this initiative, 171 individuals have received awards for stopping illegal hunting of snow leopards and wild ungulates, as well as for the confiscation of illegal weapons.
The Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Akyl Toktobaev, emphasized the importance of biodiversity conservation and support for those on the front lines in the fight for nature conservation, which remains a priority of state environmental policy.
Among the awardees:
- Beishenbek Tyumenbaev (22,000 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Jeti-Oguz district. Confiscated a legally hunted ibex in the village of Sary-Oy, Issyk-Kul region. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms, of which 150,000 soms were recovered;
- Baktygul Takeev (14,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Awarded for two cases: in the Ton district, he confiscated two smoothbore rifles, each subject to a lawsuit for 50,000 soms;
- Kairat Bekboosun uulu (10,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated illegal rifled weapons in the Jeti-Oguz district. A lawsuit was filed for 100,000 soms;
- Erlan Asanaliev (7,500 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated smoothbore weapons from a local resident in the village of Tosor, with a lawsuit amounting to 50,000 soms;
- Kairat Askarbekov (22,000 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Ak-Tal district. During a raid, confiscated meat from an illegally hunted ibex. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms;
- Urmatbek Abykanov (10,000 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Kemin district. During a raid with representatives of NABU, confiscated illegal weapons from a poacher. The weapons were confiscated and are in the police department;
- Aydarbek Tilebaldy uulu (22,000 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Chon-Alai district. Confiscated an illegally hunted ibex. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms, which was fully recovered;
- Almaz Sultanov (7,500 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Nookat district. Jointly with NABU, detained a hunter with illegal weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 50,000 soms;
- Nurmat Moldobekov (14,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Awarded for two cases: during raids, confiscated two smoothbore weapons on different days. The weapons were confiscated;
- Azamat Bokeshov (32,000 soms) — inspector of the Environmental and Technical Supervision Service. Awarded for two cases: in the first, confiscated meat from an illegally killed ibex, and in the second, rifled weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms for the ibex and 100,000 soms for the weapons;
- Kyiazbek Sadirov (14,000 soms) — inspector of the Environmental and Technical Supervision Service. Awarded for two cases: within a month, confiscated two smoothbore weapons during raids. A lawsuit was filed for 170,000 soms for both cases;
- Mirlan Orozobekov (22,000 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Kochkor district. Confiscated meat from an illegally hunted ibex. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms, with 100,000 soms recovered;
- Nurlan Okanov (10,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated rifled weapons during a raid. A lawsuit was filed for 100,000 soms;
- Ulanbek Kadyrov (7,500 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Jalal-Abad regional department. Detained a poacher with illegal smoothbore weapons. The weapons were confiscated;
- Dostukbek Davletkaziev (10,000 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Talas regional department. During a raid, detained a poacher with illegal rifled weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 150,000 soms;
- Zhenishbek Bektashov (22,000 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Osh regional department. Confiscated meat from an illegally hunted ibex. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms;
- Tolonbay Karimov (22,000 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Aravan district. Confiscated meat from an illegally hunted ibex. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms;
- Cholponbay Kasmanbetov (22,000 soms) — a gamekeeper from the At-Bashy district. Confiscated meat from an illegally hunted ibex. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms;
- Zhoomart Ermekov (14,000 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Jalal-Abad regional department. Awarded for two cases: on different days, detained poachers with illegal weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 100,000 soms for both cases;
- Alimbek Aydarov (10,000 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Aylai district. Confiscated illegal rifled weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 100,000 soms;
- Nursultan Talantbekov (7,500 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated smoothbore weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 50,000 soms;
- Nurbolot Zhekshykeev (7,500 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated smoothbore weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 50,000 soms;
- Adyl Ishenbaev (7,500 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated smoothbore weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 50,000 soms;
- Kanybek Raimkulov (22,000 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Chui regional department. With the help of camera traps, detained poachers with two carcasses of illegally hunted ibex. A lawsuit was filed for 600,000 soms;
- Kanat Uzbekov (7,500 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Chui regional department. During a raid, detained a poacher with a carcass of a roe deer and illegal weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 50,000 soms;
- Emilbek Dzhaparov (10,000 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Chui regional department. Confiscated rifled weapons. The weapons were confiscated;
- Beishen Kydykov (7,500 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Jalal-Abad regional department. Confiscated smoothbore weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 70,000 soms;
- Azatbek Mamytbekov (7,500 soms) — a gamekeeper from the Jalal-Abad regional department. Confiscated smoothbore weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 60,000 soms;
- Ilchibek Charginov (7,500 soms) — a wildlife specialist from the Talas regional department. Confiscated smoothbore weapons. A lawsuit was filed for 50,000 soms;
- Kalysbek Teltaev (22,000 soms) — inspector of the Environmental and Technical Supervision Service. A snow leopard skin was found in a local resident's house, which led to a lawsuit for 2 million soms;
- Zhorobek Kazakbaev (22,000 soms) — inspector of the Environmental and Technical Supervision Service. Confiscated an illegally hunted ibex in the Naryn region. A lawsuit was filed for 300,000 soms;
- Kanybek Janibekov (22,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Detained a poacher with five carcasses of illegally hunted ibex in the Ak-Suu district. A lawsuit was filed for 1.5 million soms;
- Akylbek Makeev (10,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated illegal rifled weapons, with a lawsuit amounting to 100,000 soms;
- Asylbek Sydykov (10,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated illegal rifled weapons, with a lawsuit amounting to 100,000 soms;
- Maksat Imankulov (10,000 soms) — inspector of the tourism and ecological unit. Confiscated illegal rifled weapons, with a lawsuit amounting to 100,000 soms.
This ceremony is an important outcome of the program aimed at empowering nature defenders. It highlights the significance of the work of individuals who risk their lives daily to preserve the unique biodiversity of Kyrgyzstan and protect the snow leopard — the "ghost of the mountains."
