Uzbekistan Releases Rare Houbara Bustards in Karakalpakstan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 14 May, a Boeing 757-233(PCF) aircraft operated by Sky Guard carried out a charter cargo flight on the Al Ain–Shymkent–Nukus route to deliver rare birds to the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The flight was organized at the request of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with Falcon Hunting Solutions as part of a program to conserve rare bird species.

As a result of the special flight, 893 houbara bustards, a rare species listed in Uzbekistan’s Red Book, were delivered to the region. After arrival, the birds were released into the Ustyurt Plateau in the Kungrad district of Karakalpakstan.

According to reports, the project is being implemented in accordance with the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is aimed at restoring populations of rare species in their natural habitat.

Organizers said Falcon Hunting Solutions plans to release between 2,000 and 3,000 houbara bustards annually into the wild in Karakalpakstan.

Environmental specialists emphasize that such initiatives play an important role in preserving regional biodiversity and restoring populations of endangered bird species in the Ustyurt ecosystem.

The implementation of wildlife reintroduction programs is also seen as part of a broader environmental policy aimed at protecting natural heritage and strengthening international cooperation in environmental conservation.