The Institute of Zoology organizes annual practical training sessions for students from Almaty’s universities. This year, undergraduate students from the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Natural Science and Geography of Abai KazNPU joined us for their practical training.
A session on theriology was led by Junior Researcher of the Theriology Laboratory, Elsa Artemovna Lauberts.
Students learned what theriology is, the types of challenges it addresses, and the responsibilities of specialists in this field. They were introduced to the history of theriological science in Kazakhstan, notable scientists, the major directions of research, and the achievements of one of the Institute’s oldest laboratories, established back in 1944.
One of the laboratory’s key areas of focus is taking part in research and conservation efforts for rare mammal species such as the snow leopard, goitered gazelle, argali, Bukhara deer, kulan, and others.
Around 180 mammal species inhabit Kazakhstan, and 45 of these are included in the 5th edition of the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan!
The laboratory houses a Research Center for Snow Leopard Monitoring, whose activities are aimed at increasing predator populations and conserving their habitats.
In recent years, modern remote-sensing methods such as camera traps, satellite telemetry, and drones have been widely applied in theriological research. These methods enable scientists to regularly obtain data on rare animals listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, such as the snow leopard, Turkestan lynx, Pallas’s cat, and others. Last year, it also became possible to identify snow leopards using the Yandex Qazaqstan neural network.
The laboratory maintains its own collection, giving students the chance to gain practical experience with some of the specimens, handle and compare the skulls of various mammals, and so forth.
These kinds of practical sessions are always not just educational and engaging but also play an important role in helping future specialists choose their specialization and gain closer familiarity with scientific research and the work of research institutes.
February 21, 2025