President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva have watched the release of the first flock of gazelles in the territory of the Qobustan-Cangicay State Game Reserve near the village of Pirakashkul in Absheron District.
Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseynqulu Bagirov reported that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation continues to support the project "On the protection, reintroduction and restoration of the historical habitat of gazelles in the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic", which is of exceptional importance for maintaining ecology and the environmental balance and protecting ecological history and biodiversity in the country. In order to increase the number of gazelles in this habitat at the Qobustan-Cangicay State Game Reserve, which belongs to the administrative territory of Absheron District, the project "On the protection, reintroduction and restoration of the historical habitat of gazelles in the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic" in 2010-2011 is being implemented. According to the project which covers the Acinohur-Sarica plains, the Bozdag Ridge, the Mil plain and the Qobustan-Cangicay area, gazelles are being resettled here from the Shirvan National Park in order to increase their number here. The Qobustan-Cangicay area also has rich vegetation for the gazelles. Historically, the area has had a large gazelle population. Currently, relevant measures are being implemented for the gazelles to settle and live here.
The head of state was informed about areas regarded as the historical habitat of gazelles and the work that has been carried out here.
President Ilham Aliyev looked at stands that reflect the historical habitats of gazelles. It was noted that the Shirvan National Park, which was established according to a decree issued by the national leader Heydar Aliyev on 5 July 2003, has created conditions for increasing the number of gazelles on a permanent basis. An ecotourism centre, an ecotourism estate and a museum were set up and provided with the most up-to-date equipment at the Shirvan National Park. As a result of the establishment of the Shirvan National Park, which is regarded as a base for breeding gazelles, and measures that were implemented, the number of these rare animals has rapidly increased and reached nine thousand. This has created grounds for the reintroduction of animals in their historical habitat. For this reason, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is implementing the project "On the protection, reintroduction and restoration of the historical habitat of gazelles in the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic" with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The Qobustan-Cangicay territory is also regarded as one of the historical habitats of gazelles, and according to the project, it is planned to resettle 150 gazelles here. According to the protect, in order to study and eliminate the existing problems, to supply dry areas with water and food and increase the protection of the gazelle population, extensive work was carried out to set up and equip rapid reaction anti-poaching groups, monitor the territory of the project on a permanent basis, carry out important biotechnical measures and educate the population of the territory and surrounding areas on ecology.
It was noted that increasing the protection of the rare species of gazelles will help expand the habitat of this species and restore the natural habitats that had existed for hundreds of years. The establishment of the Qobustan-Cangicay State Game Reserve in the lowland Qobustan-Cangicay valley will also help protect natural vegetation and the gazelles that will be reintroduced here.
President Ilham Aliyev also looked at the map of areas for the resettlement and reintroduction of gazelles in the Azerbaijan Republic.
The head of state was also informed about the former and current habitats of the gazelles and their migration corridors. It was noted that according to the project on the protection, reintroduction and restoration of the natural habitat of gazelles, relevant work is being carried out in the Shirvan National Park along with the Qobustan-Cangicay area and about 9,000 gazelles are kept in the national park which has an area of more than 65,000 hectares. This is the largest gazelle population in Europe. The reintroduction of gazelles is also successfully continuing at the Aggol National Park, which has an area of 18,000 hectares, in Beylaqan District. The Korcay State Game Reserve in Goranboy District is home to 300 gazelles, while the Acinohur and Sarica plains in Qax District are home to three flocks of gazelles.
President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva released into the territory of the Qobustan-Cangicay reserve a gazelle carrying a special transmitting collar that receives information through a satellite.
The head of state also familiarized himself with various kinds of equipment and other devices used during the implementation of the project. It was noted that educational work is being carried out among the population in settlements and villages located near the habitat in order to ensure the security of the gazelles. Special information boards are being installed along the roads near the habitat. The boards say that it is illegal to hunt gazelles.
