Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-8mjnm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T17:41:53.226Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Monitoring of Asian houbara bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii populations in Kazakhstan reveals dramatic decline

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2004

Christophe Tourenq
Affiliation:
National Avian Research Center, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Olivier Combreau
Affiliation:
National Avian Research Center, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Sergey B. Pole
Affiliation:
Kazakh Scientific Centre for Quarantine and Zoonosis Diseases, Xaplaskaja 14, Almaty, 480074, Kazakhstan
Mark Lawrence
Affiliation:
National Avian Research Center, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Vladimir S. Ageyev
Affiliation:
Kazakh Scientific Centre for Quarantine and Zoonosis Diseases, Xaplaskaja 14, Almaty, 480074, Kazakhstan
Alekzey A. Karpov
Affiliation:
Kazakh Scientific Centre for Quarantine and Zoonosis Diseases, Xaplaskaja 14, Almaty, 480074, Kazakhstan
Frédéric Launay
Affiliation:
National Avian Research Center, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

From 1998 to 2002 we monitored changes in the relative abundance of Asian houbara bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii across the greater part of its range in Kazakhstan. The areas most frequented by houbara bustard were the Kyzylkum region, with 35% of total sightings, and the Betpak-Dala/Muyunkum region with 25%. For all survey areas combined, mean relative abundance ranged from 0.004 to 0.017 individuals seen per km driven. Density estimates ranged from 0.025 to 0.086 houbara bustard per km2. Between 1999 and 2002 spring relative abundance and density decreased by 65 and 51% respectively. Likewise, autumn relative abundance decreased by 56% from 1998 to 2001 and density decreased by 35% between 1999 and 2001. Kyzylkum had the greatest declines in relative abundance during both spring (78%) and autumn (61%). It is highly probable that this observed decline in houbara bustard populations is linked to hunting and poaching pressure, both in Kazakhstan and on the wintering grounds of these Central Asian breeding populations.

Type
Articles
Copyright
© 2004 Fauna & Flora International