On June 23, a ceremony for awarding state honors to citizens who made a significant contribution to environmental protection and the implementation of the international project to restore the tiger to its historical range was held in Astana.
Among the awardees was E.R. Baidavletov, a researcher of the Laboratory of Theriology of the Institute of Zoology. The state award “Eren Enbegi Ushin” (“For Distinguished Labor”) was presented to Yerlik Ryspekovich Baidavletov for his significant contribution to the scientific support of the program for restoring the tiger population in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is gradually implementing a state program for tiger reintroduction, aimed at restoring the population of this predator in the region by 2050. The project is being carried out with the support of UNDP.
On the поручение of the Head of State, extensive work has been conducted in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve to restore tiger habitats, prepare the prey base, and provide scientific support for the project. An important milestone was the relocation of four tigers from the Khabarovsk Territory (Russian Federation) in May 2026.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev expressed his gratitude to environmental specialists, scientists, staff of the Ile-Balkhash Reserve, international experts, and all project participants, whose joint efforts made it possible to return the tiger to Kazakhstan.
24.06.2026
Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MEPR RK)