Reviving the Houbara Bustard: Restoration of a Rare Steppe Bird Species in the Aral Sea Region
2026-05-20 16:55:00 / News
The Aral Sea crisis has dramatically transformed the ecosystem of Karakalpakstan, with the region’s wildlife suffering the most severe consequences. Among the species brought to the brink of extinction is the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii), a unique symbol of the desert and steppe landscapes of Central Asia.
Today, restoring the houbara bustard population remains one of the region’s key environmental priorities. On 14 May this year, another release of 893 houbara bustards took place in Karakalpakstan. The birds were imported from specialized breeding centres in the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan.
The release was carried out under the supervision of specialists from the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the participation of international experts and representatives of "Falcon Hunting Solutions" LLC.