Uzbekistan Imposes Hunting Ban on Rare Animals

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Government of Uzbekistan has adopted a resolution "On measures to compensate for losses of animal world, as well as protect rare and highly endangered wild animals," the Ministry of Justice announced.

According to the document, a ban on hunting rare and highly endangered species of wild animals will be in effect in the country from 1 August 2026 to 1 January 2028.

The ban covers the snow leopard, Persian leopard, striped hyena, saiga antelope, Bukhara deer, Turkestan lynx, caracal, flamingo, bustard, black stork, dalmatian pelican, common crane, and other species included in an approved list.

However, the restrictions do not apply to hunting animals kept or raised on farms, in nurseries, hatcheries, fish farms, and pond fisheries. An exception is also made for catching animals for scientific and medical purposes.

The resolution also provides that when forming and allocating quotas for catching wild animals, no quotas will be allocated for species whose hunting is prohibited in accordance with the new document.

In addition, from 1 August 2026 to 1 January 2030, rivers and streams flowing through the central cities of the republic will be stocked annually with at least 15 tonnes of fingerlings.

The list of species for fish stocking will be determined by the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change together with the Academy of Sciences.