In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, Azamat shared the difficulties faced by livestock breeders: they work every day in any climate conditions, bearing full responsibility for their farms. Despite all the trials, they continue to pursue their beloved work, not losing hope.
Azamat recalled an astonishing incident that happened to him when he got stuck on the way to Ak-Shiyrak and had to survive on wolf meat for three days.
“On February 16, 2023, at around 8:00 AM, I left my sheepfold heading towards the village. The weather suddenly worsened: a snowstorm began, and fog set in, reducing visibility. Nevertheless, I decided to continue my journey home. At one point, my car got stuck in the snow and went off course, and I ran out of gas, finding myself in a difficult situation. I was stranded until February 19,” he recounted.
Under normal conditions, it takes only an hour and a half to get home, so he didn’t take any food with him. On the way, Azamat managed to shoot a wolf, and in the face of hunger, he had to butcher the carcass and eat its meat. “I’ve lived in the highland zone for many years, but I had never tried wolf meat. In such a situation, there can be no question of disgust. To survive, I decided to eat,” he added.
After three days, when the weather improved, Azamat, using a flashlight to light his way in the early morning, set off towards the village. “Due to hunger, I was losing strength; I would walk 100-200 meters and then fall. To signal for help, I set my chapan on fire and shot my gun, but no one responded. I set out at 7:00 AM and only reached the village by 10:00 PM,” he noted.
The snow reached knee-deep in places, and being exhausted, he managed to reach the military post “Karasai,” where he was noticed by soldiers and neighbors. Two neighbors prepared vehicles, brought hot tea and bread, and went to help. After he got to the village, Azamat collapsed from fatigue. The soldiers were also preparing to set out to assist. When he came to, he was offered hot tea and advised to get a shot for recovery, but there was no suitable equipment, so he managed without it. “I told my family that I had gone to hunt wolves in the Ak-Shiyrak valley and would return in 4-5 days, so they weren’t worried about my disappearance,” he explained.
Azamat also noted that the distance to Ak-Shiyrak is about 300 km. “There are many similar stories like mine. The road service employees try to clear the roads during snowstorms, but unless the number of special equipment is increased, the roads quickly become covered with snow. In our highland zone, there are many animals and shepherds, and if someone gets stuck, it can take a long time to wait for help,” he added.
The village of Ak-Shiyrak was founded in 1918, and in 1930, a village council was established here, based on which a primary school was opened. In 1935, the collective farm “1-May” was created, and in 1962, the Uch-Koshkon and Ak-Shiyrak village councils were formed under the administration of the Geological Department of the USSR.
The village is located 270 km from the district center. To the north rises the mountain Eshik-Art, and to the south are the mountains Boor-Albas and Ak-Zoo. In winter, temperatures can drop to -40 degrees, while in summer, it is quite cool here.
In Ak-Shiyrak, there is a boarding school, two FAPs (feldsher-obstetric points), a cultural center, a hotel, and a public bath, as well as other social facilities. More than 300 families live in the village. In 2014, a yak breeding farm was established here, and work is currently underway to increase their numbers. The local residents mainly engage in animal husbandry.
According to one legend, the village got its name due to the unusual characteristics of the land, where bleached bones of wild and domestic animals mixed with clay were found. According to another version, the name is related to the work of a young man who received a foal for his labor, and then this animal became a famous racehorse and was named “Ak-Shiyrak” (White Legs).
