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It became one of the first nature reserves created in the Turkmen SSR. At that time, there were only 2 nature reserves in Turkmenistan – Repeteksky, created in 1927, and Krasnovodsk, in 1932. The Badkhyz Nature Reserve was founded in December 1941 on the initiative of the famous zoologist Professor M.I. Rozanov for the sake of saving the kulans. Back in the 18th century, herds of these extremely hardy Animals inhabited the plains of Central Asia from the Aral Sea region in the north to the spurs of Paramiz in the south. But in the first half of the 20th century, no more than 150 heads survived only in Badkhyz. By 1940, the large kulan population in the region had disappeared. Small herds of only 150-250 heads are preserved only in Badkhyz. After the civil war, surplus appropriation and other reasons, famine broke out in the country. Hunting for ungulates has increased manifold. The sharp decline in ungulates led to the extinction of large cat predators – the Turanian tiger and cheetah. The organization of the Badkhyz Nature Reserve killed off the surviving population of the kulan in Badkhyz. In subsequent years, attempts were made to expand the range of this species. Badkhyz kulans became the basis for the reintroduction of kulans in the Kaplankyr reserve, in the Meana-Chaachinsky and Kurukhaudansky reserves of the Kopetdag reserve, populations in the Khodzhakala and Sumbar valleys. Badkhyz is an amazing natural object, with climatic conditions specific to Turkmenistan. In some years there are heavy snowfalls and frosts. The distribution of precipitation throughout the year is very similar to the trade wind. Almost all precipitation falls in winter – in April, May, while from June to October there is practically no rain. Due to the terrain, strong winds are often observed in Badkhyz. In addition to the kulan, the reserve is home to the argali mountain sheep, leopard, striped hyena, goitered gazelle and many other valuable, rare Animals.

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The fauna is also rich. Among the mammals, in addition to the kulan, there are numerous goitered gazelles and mountain sheep – urials. Predators include wolves, striped hyena, caracal and rarely leopard. Among the birds, the most notable are the black vulture, osprey, buzzard, houbara bustard, and numerous flocks of rosy starlings. Reptiles – 39 species, of which Chernov’s snake lizard, gray monitor lizard, cobra and a number of others are included in the Red Book of Turkmenistan. More than 1,300 species of insects were found in the invertebrate fauna of the reserve, 108 of them are endemic.

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A similar fate befell the pistachio, whose open forests once stretched across the foothills and lowlands of Central Asia. However, having been exterminated everywhere, pistachio has survived in arid areas in the south of Tajikistan and in Turkmen Badkhyz. The area of the Badkhyz Nature Reserve is 87,680 hectares. He owns three reserves: Chemenabitsky, Pulikhatunsky and Kyzyldzharsky. In spring, a bright green carpet of grass spreads here, decorated with blooming poppies, tulips and tall ferula (umbrella family). But already in May summer comes, and then only the pistachio umbrellas turn green. At this time, pistachios are very reminiscent of the African savannah. In the flora of the reserve there are about 700 species of plants, among which there are endemic ones, that is, found only in this corner of the planet: Badkhyz curly curly, Afghan fig, Kushkin tulip, extremely rare small-berry Badkhyz pistachio and a number of other species .

Photos from the reserve

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