Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The administration of Zarafshan National Nature Park has confirmed that the Chegara Canal, which for many years served as one of the water sources for wild animals, has lost its permanent water flow.
A joint study involving water management specialists and hydrologists is planned to establish the causes of the problem.
The statement followed the publication of an article titled “Drought and Arbitrary Actions Threaten the National Park” by park researcher E. B. Kholmanov on the EKOLOG.UZ portal and social media.
According to observations by park staff, the volume of water in the canal, which runs along the boundary of the protected area, began to decline significantly in 2022. The permanent water flow stopped in 2023.
The canal previously provided water for local wildlife, including the Bukhara deer and the Zarafshan pheasant. The park administration said it shared the author's concerns about the environmental changes.
However, the specific reasons for the loss of water flow have not yet been established. Possible factors include changes in the hydrological regime of the Zarafshan River and the impact of economic activities. Further research is needed to confirm these possibilities.
The park administration intends to propose a joint investigation involving water management specialists, hydrologists and representatives of relevant authorities.
Based on the findings, proposals will be prepared on possible ways to restore water supply to the Chegara Canal and preserve the national park's ecosystem.
