Pribalkhash State Nature Sanctuary (complex)

Balqash Edge Sanctuary – a state zoological sanctuary established in 1967 in the Balqash district of Almaty region for the protection of rare and endangered animals.

Relief

The area is 503 thousand ha. It includes the floodplain of the Ilek River and the flat area of the Taukum desert with forested floodplains, meadows, steppe, and sandy habitats. In the sanctuary there are mixed birch–aspen forests, white and black poplar, willow, and willow shrubs. The terrain of the sanctuary is very suitable for animals.

Fauna

There are more than 200 species of water birds and about 30 species of fish. Among mammals – marmot, gerbil, jerboa, among birds – pheasant, etc., among reptiles – spotted tortoise, etc. Several game birds (black-tailed gull, spotted crane, white-tailed snipe, white-headed duck, hawk, swan with a black bill, etc.) and plants (Meier bellflower, Taukum sage, etc.) from the Balqash sanctuary are included in Kazakhstan's Red Book.