Together with the world, we celebrate today the World Ranger Day.
On this day, we want to remember those who died, fulfilling their duty.
This year already two rangers from Kazakhstan were killed by poachers hunting saigas.
On January 15 ranger Yerlan Nurgaliev died in hospital. Before that, on January 13, Yerlan together with his colleague Petr Nitsyk pursued poachers who were hunting saiga. After the chase, the rangers were severely beaten by poachers. Eventually, Petr Nitsyk survived with severe injuries.
On July 23 ranger Kanysh Nurtazinov has been killed by poachers. On that day in Zharkain district of the Akmola region, two inspectors sustained gunshot wounds when they were trying to detain poachers and prevent them from killing saiga antelopes. Nurtazinov, who was only 43, tragically passed away before paramedics could tend to his injuries. He is survived by his wife and four children. Kanysh’s colleague, Samat Ospanov, survived with injuries.
Today we also want to remind of the Rangers, who continue their difficult and noble job.
To know more you about their everyday life you can look through interviews from Stepnoy Reserve: Vladimir and Galina Kalmykovy, Vyacheslav Zimin and Alexey Tkachev.
And of course, on this day we are glad to share with you the whole gallery of camera trap shots from Stepnoy Reserve which captured the everyday magic of the magic of fragile wildlife that needs our protection
If you want to make a donation for saigas conservation you can make it here