Sarkent State Nature Park () is a national park in Leylek District of Batken Region of Kyrgyzstan established in June 2009. The purpose of the park is conservation of the unique natural complexes and biodiversity, protection of rare and endangered flora and fauna, and extension of network of specially protected areas of Kyrgyz Republic. The area of the park is 39,999 hectares. The park is located in the Turkestan Range, 42 km from the district center Isfana and in 177 km from the regional center Batken.
Rare species listed in the Red Book live here, such as the brown bear, the snow leopard, the golden eagle, the lynx, and the saker. The park is located on the very edge of Kyrgyzstan, making visitor levels low. Local authorities are trying to further develop tourism in the area.
Area
Within the territory of the Sarkent State Nature Park, there are four zones: Strictly protected zone Ecological stabilization zone Tourism and recreation zone Limited economic activity zone
The total area of the nature park currently amounts to approximately 40,000 hectares including:
№ Name Area (ha) % of total area 1 Strictly protected zone 14,266.2 35.7 2 Ecological stabilization zone 2,378.8 5.9 3 Tourism and recreation zone 955.0 2.4 4 Limited economic activity zone 22,400.0 56.0 Total 40,000 100.0
Hydrology The hydrology of the park area in dominated by Ak-Suu (Syr Darya) river that flows into Syr Darya, and its tributaries. There are five lakes in the nature park including Aykol (located at the altitude of approximately 3,000 meters), Jashylkol, Sutkol, Boyrokkol, and Jashkol.
Fauna Surveys of the mammals inhabiting the park conducted in 2009-2016 showed occurrence of the following species.
+ List of mammals established in Sarkent State Nature Park in 2009-2016 English Latin Kyrgyz Insectivorous Insectiviora Bowdich, 1829 Курт-кумурска жечулор 1. Tien Shan shrew Sorex asper (Thomas, 2014) Тяньшань күрөң тиш чукуур Bats Chiroptera (Blumenbach, 1779) Кол канаттар 2. Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii (Tomes, 1857) Тик кулак жарганат 3. Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus (Fisher, 1829) Далдаң кулак 4. Common noctule Nyctalus noctule (Schreber, 1774) Сары жарганат Carnivora Carnivora Bowdich 1821 Жырткычтар 5. Wolf Canis lupus (Linnaeus, 1758) Карышкыр 6. Red fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) Кадимки түлкү 7. Brown bear Ursus arctos (Linnaeus, 1758) Күрөң аюу 8. Stoat Mustela erminea (Linnaeus, 1758) Арыс кара куйрук 9. Steppe polecat Mustela eversmanii (Lesson, 1827) Ач күсөн 10. Beech marten Martes foina (Erxleben, 1777) Суусар 11. European badger Meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758) Кашкулак 12. Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx (Linnaeus, 1758) Сүлөөсүн 13. Snow leopard Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775) Илбирс Even-toed ungulates Artiodactyla, Owen, 1848 Ача туяктуулар 14. Wild boar Sus scrofa (Linnaeus, 1758) Каман 15. Roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) Элик 16. Siberian ibex Capra sibirica (Pallas, 1776) Сибир тоо текеси 17. Argali Ovis ammon (Linnaeus, 1758) Архар Rodent Rodentia Bowdich 1821 Кемирүүчүлөр 18. Long-tailed marmot Marmota caudata (Geoffroy, 1844) Кызыл суур 19. Indian crested porcupine Hystrix indica (Kerr, 1792) ЧүткөрLagomorpha Lagomorpha Brandt, 1855 Коен сымалдар 20. Tolai hare Lepus tolai (Pallas, 1778) Кадимки коен 21. Large-eared pika Ochotona macrotis (Günther, 1875) Чоң кулак коен чычкан 22. Turkestan red pika Ochotona rutile (Severtzov, 1873) Кызыл коен чычканы
References