Public Association "Argali Foundation"

Kyrgyzstan · founded in 2019 · NGO

About the organization

The Public Association "Argali Foundation" was established in 2019 and brings together more than 20 professional specialists engaged in scientific and practical work on biodiversity conservation in Kyrgyzstan.

Key areas of work

Reintroduction of rare species, establishment of protected areas, monitoring of mountain ungulates and other species, development of survey methodologies, training seminars for protected area staff, participation in drafting legal acts, scientific publications.

Target species and subspecies

Severtzov's argali (Ovis ammon severtzovi), goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), snow leopard, otter, golden eagle and other birds of prey, white-breasted pigeon; in the future — kulan (Asiatic wild ass).

Geographic scope

Kyrgyzstan, Pamir-Alai protected areas, Inner Tian Shan, the southern region of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Experience working with wild sheep

Argali Foundation continuously monitors populations of mountain sheep and goats. A visual survey methodology has been developed, forming the basis of an official instruction for protected area staff and hunting concession holders in Kyrgyzstan. Monitoring methodologies have been developed and introduced for Severtzov's argali alongside the snow leopard, otter, birds of prey and golden eagle, and the white-breasted pigeon — these methodologies are actively used by staff of Pamir-Alai protected areas.

Key achievements

Reintroduction of the goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa): in 2021, starting from 12 animals brought from Uzbekistan, the population was increased to 90, of which 35 were successfully re-acclimatized to the wild.
Research and recommendations by the foundation led to the creation of 7 zoological reserves (zakazniks) in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Developed a manual for breeding and caring for goitered gazelles under semi-captive conditions and adaptation to the wild.
Assessed medicinal plant reserves in the southern region of the Kyrgyz Republic; published a monograph based on the results.
Regularly conducts training for Kyrgyzstan's protected area staff on modern zoological methodologies.
Actively involved in drafting legal and regulatory acts on biodiversity conservation.
Developed and established an ecological corridor for migrating mammal species in the Inner Tian Shan.
Published more than 20 scientific articles on biodiversity conservation; contributed a chapter on the distribution of the golden eagle in Kyrgyzstan to the international monograph Golden Eagle Around the World.

Future plans

As a young and dynamically developing organization, Argali Foundation plans to make a significant contribution to the conservation of Kyrgyzstan's fauna and flora. The next strategic step will be the reintroduction of kulans (Asiatic wild asses) to their historical habitats.