Marat Zhekelee, a representative of the local hunting union, stated in an interview with Turmush that their organization includes about 50 members, with 3-4 people from each village. They focus on wildlife protection and exclusively hunt wolves, crows, and magpies. "Last year we culled over 100 wolves, the pelts of which were submitted to the commission. However, since February of last year, we have not received any payments for them. This leads to a loss of motivation among hunters. Nevertheless, this year we have already culled over 150 wolves, and their numbers continue to grow, harming the ecosystem. Working to cull wolves is not easy—we traverse swamps, go through dense forests, cross rivers, and face various difficulties. We need money for ammunition, and we hope that the government will finally fulfill its obligations and appreciate our work," he noted.
Another union member, Zhanibek Kuttukeev, also emphasized that hunters continue the fight against predators and strive to reduce their numbers. "The government sets a reward of 6,000 soms for a wolf and 2,000 soms for a jackal. Despite the efforts of the district administration and the hunting union, we still have not received our payments. We hear that hunters in other regions receive their money on time, while our members have not seen rewards for wolves and jackals since February of last year. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Natural Resources does not pay proper attention to this. Without payments, hunters lose the desire to go hunting, and the increase in the wolf population can seriously damage nature," he added.
Gallery: Hunters of the Kochkor district.
Other members of the hunting union also voiced their concerns: the cost of ammunition is high, and the wolf population continues to grow. "The increase in the wolf population harms nature, leading to the disappearance of birds, hares, and other small animals. We are nature defenders and are trying to control the population of predators such as wolves and jackals. It would be fair if government payments were made on time. Since last year, we have submitted the pelts of culled wolves to the commission, but the lack of payments decreases our motivation. We transport pelts from remote villages, spend money on this, and deal with unpleasant odors, but in the end, we see no benefits—only losses," they shared.
