Rare brown bear sighted at Kumtor mine for first time

A rare Tian Shan white-clawed brown bear, a subspecies listed in Kyrgyzstan's Red Book, has been sighted for the first time within the Kumtor mine's territory. Specialists interpret the appearance of this rare predator as a sign of favorable conditions for wildlife in the concession area.

The Sarychat-Ertash State Nature Reserve reports a population of 17 Tian Shan white-clawed brown bears. The bear's presence at the mine is therefore of particular interest to experts.

This protected species is subject to strict hunting prohibitions. The Kumtor area has also recently seen the return of swans after a long absence, and the black-necked crane, a globally rare species, was observed near the mine at Sook Pass for the first time in Kyrgyzstan. These observations of rare fauna confirm the existence of suitable habitats in the high-altitude regions of the Central Tien Shan.