Kazakhstan has tightened hunting rules and penalties for animal cruelty. The law, signed by the President, also provides for the digital registration of wild animals and additional measures to protect rare species.
WHAT HAS CHANGED
According to TV channel 24KZ, the new rules ban amateur hunters from using thermal imagers, drones, and night vision devices. Additionally, power lines must be equipped with bird-protection devices.
One of the innovations concerns the registration of wild animals — hunting farms are now required to keep records in digital format. However, waterfowl are not subject to this regulation.
HOW ANIMALS WILL BE RECORDED
Chief expert of the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Olzhabek Kholov, explained that hunting farms will conduct registration using approved methodologies.
The list includes foxes, hares, badgers, as well as ungulates — marals and deer. Based on the data obtained, animal numbers will be determined, and limits on their harvesting, including for hunting, will be set.
WHAT MEASURES ARE PROVIDED FOR RARE SPECIES
Another part of the law is aimed at protecting rare and endangered animals. The authorities are focusing on increasing the population of goitered gazelles, argali, and kiangs.
For example, the number of kiangs in the country is about 3.5 thousand individuals. The annual increase should be between 50 and 100 animals.
Furthermore, there are more than 850 hunting farms in Kazakhstan, each of which must develop a plan to increase the number of Red Book species.
According to Olzhabek Kholov, such plans include biotechnical measures, raids, and educational work.
WHAT PENALTIES ARE PROVIDED
The law has tightened administrative and criminal liability for animal cruelty. The amounts of fines, terms of community service, and imprisonment will be increased.
The fine for violating hunting rules will be 10 MCI (more than 43 thousand tenge). According to the TV channel, the amount of the penalty will double.
Animal cruelty carries a prison sentence of up to three years.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT REGULATING THE SAIGA POPULATION
Parallel to the tightening of hunting rules and measures to protect rare animals, the state continues preparations for the culling of another Red Book even-toed ungulate — the saiga.
According to TV channel KTK, in 2026 the number of saigas will be regulated again. The volumes of culling are planned to be determined based on scientific calculations. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Ecology, the population of the steppe antelope in Kazakhstan has approached 5 million individuals.
At the same time, preparations for the next population regulation are taking place against the backdrop of reports of mass saiga die-offs. Footage of dead animals is being circulated on social media, mainly from the West Kazakhstan Region (WKR). However, in official statements dedicated to the future culling, this topic has so far hardly been mentioned.
