Kazakhstan Creates Merke Nature Park to Protect Endangered Species

The Kazakh government has established a new regional state nature park, Merke, in the Jambyl region, Orda.kz reports.

The area has been granted the status of a specially protected natural territory and covers more than 86,000 hectares in the foothills and mountains of the Western Tien Shan, one of Central Asia’s key biodiversity hubs.

The park is home to rare and endangered species, including the snow leopard, argali, Turkistan lynx and Indian porcupine. All of them are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife said.

The project is designed not only to conserve nature but also to promote ecotourism, education, and sustainable management of natural resources.

Authorities plan to build tourist infrastructure, create new jobs, and develop scientific and educational programs on the park’s territory.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov