Tarbagatay State Nature Sanctuary (zoological)

Tarbagatay State Nature Sanctuary – established in 1968 for a period of 10 years. In 1978 its term of service was extended for the next 10 years. It has great regional significance.

Geographic location, terrain

It occupies 240 thousand hectares in the Zaysan and Tarbagatay districts of East Kazakhstan region. It is located in the steppe part of the Mangyraq ridge and the northern part of the Shilikti plateau. The sanctuary’s land is crossed by the rivers Kysty, Red Birch, Kandy-su, Karasu and others.

Flora and fauna

In the middle belt of the mountain, grasses mixed with cereal-like plants grow, and at the foot of the mountain sage and many grass species mixed with grasses grow. On the slopes and mountain foothills there are shrubs and trees, in particular: pine, juniper, spruce, birch, aspen, willow, poplar. White birch forms dense stands, becoming a forest. The sanctuary is home to the red‑book species striped black viper, steppe viper, white‑browed viper, steppe leopard, black‑browed buzzard, lark, kite, hawk, raven, argali, hare, marmot, elk, roe deer, gray wolf, beech marten, and owl.