The Red Data Book of the USSR (also known as the Krasnaya Kniga) was the Soviet Union’s contribution to the IUCN Red List maintained by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN – www.redlist.org).  The book took its name from this worldwide “list”- and was not connected with the politics of the Communist regime.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, (IUCN – The World Conservation Union), was founded in 1948 and has its headquarters in Switzerland.  Its membership includes more than 80 states, (but not Kyrgyzstan), 100 government agencies, 750 NGOs , 80 international organizations and a number of Affiliate members … which means it has over 10000 experts on whom it can draw for information and expertise.The Union has six Commissions which asses the state of the world’s natural resources and one of these is the Species Survival Commission.  The 7000 members of this Commission advises the Union on all aspects of species conservation and produces the ICUN Red List of Threatened Species – which is updated every four years, although not every species is able to be re-evaluated every time.  The latest edition was issued in May 2006.

It is widely recognized as the most authoritative guide to worldwide biodiversity.

The IUCN website actually lists 269 endangered species resident in Kyrgyzstan - 263 species of animals and 6 species of plants – although it should be remembered that this list includes species which are variously categorized as:

Code	Description	Plants	Animals
		in Kyrgyzstan
EX	Extinct
EW	Extinct in the Wild
CR	Critically Endangered		1
EN	Endangered		7
VU	Vulnerable	1	12
LR/cd	Lower Risk / Conservation Dependent
NT	Near Threatened		17
DD	Data Deficient		2
LC	Least Concern	5	224
TOTALS		6	263

There is also a category NE – Not evaluated.  The categories Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable are classified as Threatened species.

More information can be found on their websites: www.icun.org and www.icunredlist.org

Citation: IUCN 2006. 2006IUCN Red List of threatened Species. <http://www.iucnredlist.org>.  Downloaded on 11 March 2007.

Originally the “Red Data Book of the USSR” was just an organized list of endangered species - widely consulted, especially by those considering measures for the protection and rehabilitation of such species, but it later became a legislative document providing for the implementation of various measures and programmes.

The Red Book of the USSR was published in 1978 as a formalization of earlier research, and was subsequently followed by a number of other local versions in different republics of the Union – for example Russia, the Ukraine, Turkmenistan … indeed all of the CIS states now publish their own version, and even for regions and much smaller areas.  Moscow has its own official Red Data Book.

In 1979 the Ministerial Council of the Kyrgyz SSR adopted a decree approving the the list of rare and threatened species including:

• • 13 species of mammals
  • 20 bird species
  • 3 reptiles
  • 1 species of fish
  • 5 inspects and
  • 65 plant species.

The Red Data Book of the Kyrgyz SSR  was published as a book in 1985 and ran to 136 pages with line drawings and maps showing the distribution of the various species throughout the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.

It was not the first instrument adopted in the republic which provided measures for the protection of endangered species.  Legal protection for endangered species began with the first law on hunting which was enacted in 1930.  Currently, as well as prohibiting their hunting, killing or the collection of specimens of certain species, Kyrgyzstan has created a number of special preserves, parks and natural reserves and in some cases populations of animals are “relocated” to assist the preservation of the species – for example the wild nopar and maral.

Then, in 2009, some further amendments were made to the list.  Here is a summary of the changes:

Although the list has been published, a new edition of the Red Data Book for the Kyrgyz Republic still has yet to be prepared and published.

The wolf has a bad reputation throughout the world.  In modern times, this is probably due in part to the prevalence of Werewolf stories and films.

There are a number of species of wolves found throughout the Republic, and their reputation is no better here than elsewhere – especially as they seen as a distinct threat to livestock. In just one year, it is claimed that wolves in the Naryn province alone were responsible for killing almost 16000 animals, (4000 horses, 4000 cows and 8000 sheep and goats) with a value of 70,400,000 soms, (about 1.75 million US dollars at that time), whereas in the same period thieves were responsible for stealing just 342 animals worth 1.4 millions soms (about 33,000 US dollars).  As a result, a bounty is paid to hunters for killing wolves and there is a planned program for culling the animals.  Even domestic dogs have fallen prey to eager hunters.

There is a large wolf dwelling in the western part of Kyrgyzstan, which grows to 40-50kg in weight, one and a half-meters in length and a height of eighty centimetres.  A smaller desert wolf is found in the plains.

Wolves prefer open spaces, copses, precipices, hills, and ravines. They live in packs which can be quite large, although individual pairs can be encountered.  It is estimated that are about 4-5000 wolves in Kyrgyzstan – some have even been observed close to Bishkek.

They have strong family ties and couples form life-long pairings. A litter is usually born in April/May and can number 5-6 cubs that stay with the parents until they reach adulthood. They can make their lairs in a variety of places: in caves, under tree roots, even taking over burrows of other animals.  Every family has its own hunting area, with marked boundaries.

Unlike wolves of the plains, which wander over a large geographical area, mountain wolves are attached to a place, roaming over a comparatively small area – following wild and domestic animals.

In the wild, wolves feed on a large quantity of birds, small animals, (marmot, hare, field-voles, mice, and hamsters).

The novel “The place of the Skull” by Chinghiz Aitmatov has as one of it’s intertwined storylines the fate of one family of wolves which migrates from the plains of Kazakhstan to the mountains around Lake Issyk Kul.  One of the novel’s heroes exhibits an unusual empathy towards the family and their struggle to survive.

There are several different types of birds of prey found in the Kyrgyz Republic: eagles, vultures, hawks, bustards and so forth. The largest is the Golden Eagle – Berkut.

The wings of a young Golden Eagle tend to be light coloured with a dark line along the edge – an older eagle will have a white tail – and the rest of the plumage is a blackish-brown.  It takes it’s name from the golden feathers at the back of the head.

The Grave Eagle has a longer tail and wider wings, with a darker colour than the Golden Eagle, and light spots on its shoulders.

The Steppe Eagle are usually brown, but young ones are a lighter colour – and exhibit a range of different shades.

Although expert hunters, eagles are not opposed to eating carrion.

Their eerie are usually to be found on the top of cliffs, although sometimes they can be found in the summit of large fir trees – especially in the case of Grave Eagles.

Eagles have a special place in Kyrgyz traditional culture and Hunting with Eagles was an important skill which is still practiced today.