In the Jabbor-Rasoulov district of the Sughd province, police officers have detained a 28-year-old local resident suspected of illegal hunting and attempting to sell rare animals, according to the Interior Ministry’s official website.
According to the ministry, at the end of March this year, the man illegally captured two Tian Shan brown bear cubs, which are listed in the Red Book of Tajikistan, in the Qizil Taiga area of the Kuhsovlisoi forest farm in the Shahriston district.
He kept the animals at his home and was detained while attempting to sell them. The damage to the forest farm is estimated at 85,000 somoni.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the suspect under Article 232 (1) of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code — illegal hunting; an investigation is underway.
It should be noted that previously an advertisement for the sale of lion cubs had appeared in the Tajik segment of social networks. An Instagram user openly advertised newborns on her page, shared “successful” sales, and demonstrated the “cozy life” of the lion cubs — how they were petted, driven in a car, and held in arms like plush toys.
Animal rights activists drew attention to the publication and called on the authorities to intervene. Following this, the entrepreneur deleted the stories, while accusing the activists of “spreading lies and harming her business,” claiming she had “all official documents, permits, and veterinary certificates.”
Just buying or selling a wild animal is not allowed
Tajikistan officially protects wild animals residing in the country’s territory. This is enshrined in a number of national laws: “On Nature Protection,” “On Environmental Protection,” and “On Specially Protected Natural Areas.”
There is administrative liability for importing or exporting animals without permission, which entails fines.
