Kulans return to central Kazakhstan
For the first time in a century, rare inhabitants, kulan or Asiatic wild asses have appeared in the steppes of central Kazakhstan, writes equestrian news portal Horsetalk.
At the end of October, within the framework of the international reintroduction project “Kulanstep”, the first group of nine animals was taken by helicopter from the southeastern national park Altyn Emel to the state natural reserve Altyn Dala. They were placed in an acclimatization enclosure and will be released in early spring next year.
According to Petra Kaczensky, a research scientist from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), co-coordinator of the project, the pilot relocation of the nine kulan was undertaken to test the methodology and logistics of capture, handling, transport and release.
It is planned to relocate another 40 kulans to the central steppes over the next three to four years.
The project "Kulanstep", aimed at double increasing the kulan population, is part of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, implemented jointly by the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan, the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, Fauna & Flora International, Frankfurt Zoological Society, and British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
In the 1930s the number of kulan critically reduced to the extinction level in Kazakhstan. The reintroduction launched in 1953. The Badkhyz reserve, which was considered to be the only habitat of the Turkmen kulan at the beginning of the 20th century, provided the initial population of 14 animals, which was brought to the Barsakelmes island in the Aral Sea. After a quarter of a century, the population range reached 200. In 1982 Kazakhstan started settling of kulans in country’s other historical habitation places.
Kulan lives in a herd. The herd, numbering from 50 to 150 heads, is led by the adult and experienced female, and the leader-male follows the family and protects it from external danger and wolves. Asian wild asses have delicate hearing and keen eyesight. They are the fastest odd-toed ungulates, and can run at high speed of 70 km/h. Sometimes a two-week-old foal can not be caught up with a horse. Kulan perfectly endures heat and cold. The short coat and high heat emission save from extremely hot weather. The thick fur with down protects from winter frosts.
Once the distribution area of the kulans stretched across the Middle East and Central Asia - from the Mediterranean to the eastern outskirts of Mongolia. Over the past two centuries, this scope has been catastrophically reduced to less than 3% of the former habitat area. Today, kulans, with estimated world population of about 20,000, are under the threat of extinction and enlisted in IUCN Red List and national Red Lists of many countries.
The conservation of kulan has become a major task for environmental organizations in Central Asia, including Turkmenistan. The main areas of reintroduction of kulan in our country are Badkhyz, Kaplankyr, Kopetdag reserves. They continue restoration efforts and acclimatization of the species.
