National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The Dalmatian pelican is a rare and endangered species of migratory and nesting birds. A National Action Plan has been developed to ensure its protection. The species is listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan, the IUCN Red List, Appendix I of CITES, and Appendix I of the Bonn Convention. In Uzbekistan, it nests in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya, in the middle reaches of the Zaravshan and Syrdarya rivers and passes through or occasionally winters in the central and southern regions of the country. While it was once common in the Aral Sea region in the 1960s, today it has disappeared from many of its former habitats. Currently, around 250 pairs nest in this region, accounting for 5–6% of the global population. Several dozen birds spend the winter here, while up to a thousand pass through during migration, and several hundred remain for the winter.

The global population of Dalmatian pelicans declined sharply in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the population is estimated at approximately 10,000–13,000 individuals. Spring migration occurs between March and April, and autumn migration from September to November. The birds nest in colonies within reed thickets, laying 2–3 eggs in April–May, and migrate again after the breeding season, between August and September. Their diet consists primarily of fish.

The "Sudoche-Akpetki" State Nature Reserve was established on February 8, 2021, in the Muynak and Takhtakupik districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. It is home to more than 70 species of plants (7 of which are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan) and around 30 species of animals, including 5 endangered species.