Kyrgyzstan is rich in both flora and fauna. You may not come any closer to a Snow Leopard than the statues that line the road between Bishkek and Lake Issyk Kul – but there is a wide range and variety of plant an animal life that you can encounter. 

Many of the species are endangered and featured in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan. The Tiger, which once roamed the slopes of the Tien Shan disappeared in the early part of the twentieth century and it is an open question how many other species will follow in its wake.

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Cranes

Joost van der Ven, in his book “Looking at Birds in the Kyrgyz Republic” devotes a special chapter to cranes and the migratory routes that bring three different species to…

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Eagles

There are several different types of birds of prey (eagles, vultures, hawks, Bustards and so forth) found in the Kyrgyz Republic – the largest is the Golden Eagle – Berkut….

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Yaks

Yaks are large animals, they can reach two metres in height, a relative of cattle. As long ago as 3000 years ago, they were first tamed by man. Domestic yaks…

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Wolves

The wolf has a bad reputation throughout the world. Perhaps part of this in modern times is due to the prevelance of Werewolf stories and films. There are a number…

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Marco Polo sheep

Marco Polo’s Sheep (Ovis ammon polii) are a variety of Argali. They are also known as Great Tibetan Sheep, Pamir Argali, and Great Pamir Sheep. They are mainly known for…

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Snow Leopard

Tigers and cheetahs once roamed through the forests of Kyrgyzstan – but the Snow Leopard is the only example of the “Big Cats” still to be found in Kyrgyzstan.  They…

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Fish

Fish provide an important source of iodine – otherwise lacking in the Kyrgyz diet – and is a popular form of food. Today, there are some 54 species found in…

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