Kaplankyr Reserve, Turkmenistán

Kaplankyr Reserve, Turkmenistán 

Kaplankyr Reserve was established in 1979, located on the plateu Kaplankyr. The reserve area is 2,822 sq. km. There were registered 6 species of mammals, 147 species of birds and 918 species of plants. Kaplankyr reserve includes two preserves: Sarykamysh Reserve and Shahsenemskiy Reserve.

There are two types of vegetation: shrubs and half-shrubs, as well as white saksaul, growing in Zaungun Karakum Desert. Such rare species of animals as gazelle, Usturt mountain sheep, honey badger and others are protected by the Reserve.

Here you can often see caracal, sand cat, gopher, reptiles (cobra, lots of lizards). It is known that once there used to be swift-flooted mammals on the planet – cheetahs. Therefore, the main aim of the Reserve is revival of extinct cheetah population and an increase of extinct cheetah population, gazelles, honey badger, wild sheep, as well as the preservation of flora and fauna.

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