In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, he shared his experience, which since 2020 includes monitoring section No. 8 of the hunting and fishing society in the Issyk-Kul region.
Zamir also briefly talked about his life journey.
“I was born in 1965 in the village of Sary-Tologoy; my father was a veteran of the Great Patriotic War. At 19, I received a draft notice for the army, which was common for all men at that time, and I fulfilled my duty during the Afghan War from 1984 to 1986. I first underwent training at a training center in Turkmenistan and then was sent to Kabul, in the Gindukush province. We stood guard for 6 to 14 hours a day, and every step we took could be our last. In this area, surrounded by enemies, we faced both armed and unarmed threats. Often, poisonous creatures like scorpions and snakes would crawl into our shoes, and we always checked them before putting them on,” he recalls.
After completing his service in 1986, Zamir returned home, became a driver, started a family, and raised two sons and two daughters with his wife.
According to Chegirtkeev, his interest in wildlife began in childhood.
“My love for nature and the protection of wild animals started in my youth. During Soviet times, the number of wild animals was significantly lower than now, and there were almost no marals left. However, since 2021, they have started wintering in the Chon-Bulak gorge, within the Tyup forestry area. This happened due to the pressure from illegal hunters, which led to their decline,” he explains.
With the strengthening of ecological protection in recent years, marals have begun to inhabit the Tyup area. Currently, he monitors the borders of the Tyup and Ak-Suu districts, which cover a total area of 30,000 hectares.
Zamir, who delivers feed and salt to wild animals in winter, emphasizes that he needs modern equipment.
“When we conducted a count in 2021, we observed only three marals, but this year their number has increased to 35–40. Locals report seeing marals migrating across the Kazakh border, and sometimes they cross the international road. I am sure that this interesting phenomenon can attract tourists and develop domestic tourism,” he noted. He also recalled an incident when a pregnant maral with twins got into trouble due to a predator and underwent rehabilitation under his supervision for 21 days. He mentioned that the animal did not take the medication, but after receiving care and attention, it was released back into the wild.
“In winter, I transport up to 30 kg of feed and salt on horseback, making feeders from fallen spruce, which last for 10 days. Sometimes near the feeder, you can find traces of wild boars and roe deer that also come to eat. The main predators are lynxes and wolves, as well as illegal hunters, with whom we fight both day and night,” Chegirtkeev added.
He emphasized that one of the biggest problems is the lack of material and technical resources. “In winter, we need transport that can move through the snow, and having camera traps and drones would significantly ease our work. Despite all the difficulties, the establishment of ecological police in recent years has helped reduce the number of poachers,” he noted.
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