Aktau-Buzachi Sanctuary

Aktau-Bozashi Sanctuary – a zoological sanctuary of republican significance. It was organized in 1982 in Mangystau region.

Topography

The area is 170 thousand ha. It includes the southwestern part of the Bozashi Peninsula, the northwestern part of Aktau, and the flat coastal plain bordering the Caspian Sea. The topography consists of sandy dunes, ridges, low hills, gravelly, salty, and marshy areas. Flat plains also occur.

Flora and fauna

The nature is typical of arid and desert regions. It contains short-lived desert plants as well as adyraspan, jantak, kok kekire, kokpek, suttigen, jusan, kuireuik, izen, mortyk, kiikoty, buyrghyn, sorang, balikköz, shagyr, kiyak, aksel eu, qurtkashash, tobylgı, bozzhide, ak tut, etc. The sanctuary is inhabited by amphibians – 1 (steppe tortoise), reptiles – 15 (common gray lizard, viper, shield‑snout, etc.), birds – about 300 (e.g., steppe eagle, wild pigeon, hoopoe, bustard, gull, sandgrouse, black kite, etc.), mammals – 34 (Caspian seal, sand fox, marmot, steppe weasel, black weasel, ferret, white hare, steppe cat, etc.). Several game birds and animals of the Aktau-Bozashi Sanctuary (e.g., jerboa duadaq, bezeledek, black‑browed cloud, itelgi, falcon, jurtshi, slender kite, black‑tail, black‑ear, sabanshi, shagyl cat, argal, wild goat – mouflon, etc.) have been taken under protection and entered into Kazakhstan’s “Red Book”.