History of the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve -
Organization of trips to nature reserves and parks in Kazakhstan -
The name of Boris Petrovich Trizna is written in gold letters in the history of the study and protection of nature in Central Asia. Born in 1867 in Kyiv, into a family of Ukrainian nobles, he, however, devoted his entire life to Turkestan. Here, in the endless steppes and harsh mountains of Southern Kazakhstan, especially in the Syr Darya valley and the Karatau ridges, he became not just an observer, but a true connoisseur of local nature, whose research still commands deep respect today. Educated, fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, French and Kazakh, Trizna was an indispensable consultant for many scientists who studied Central Asia. He was even appreciated by Nikolai Zarudny, a famous zoologist who described several new subspecies of birds and immortalized Trizna's name in their names.
Guarding nature: the fight for the reserve -
From the first days of the creation of the Turkestan Committee for the Protection of Ancient and Art Monuments, Boris Petrovich, despite his age, actively joined its work. He held key positions: he was the authorized representative for the protection of nature in the Syrdarya province, the head of the local history museum in Kyzyl-Orda, the chairman of the Syrdarya department of the Society for the Study of Kazakhstan. But the main work of his life was the Aksu-Zhabagly reserve - the first in Central Asia. It was Trizna who initiated the creation of the citvar reserve in Kabulsay, two paleontological reserves (later included in Aksu-Zhabagly), as well as the commission for the protection of the famous Khoja Akhmed Yasawi mosque. When the allocation of the territory for the reserve began in 1925, Trizna personally supervised the marking of the boundaries, installing posts with inscriptions in Russian and Kazakh. Even then, he understood that this was not just a protected area, but a scientific testing ground where the laws of nature should be studied.
Trials and struggle -
However, the first years of the reserve's existence were a time of difficult trials. The authorities did not always understand its value. In the summer of 1927, 20,000 heads of cattle were at risk of death due to drought, and the Syrdarya Provincial Executive Committee demanded that the protected lands be opened for grazing. Trizna, no longer young, but full of determination, wrote a passionate objection: "I deeply sympathize with the plight of the cattle breeders, but the destruction of the reserve will not save the situation. This is the only scientific reserve in Central Asia, known even in Europe!" His arguments had an effect: the Council of People's Commissars of the Kazakh ASSR decided to keep the reserve intact.
Hunger, hardship and a scientific feat -
The reserve's funding was meager. In 1926, the People's Commissariat of Education reported that it "had no funds for its maintenance." Observers worked on their horses, and when they died, they patrolled on foot. In 1932, the employees, not receiving their salaries for months, began to leave. Trizna wrote in his report: "I was forced to allow the shooting of wild boars and goats in the protected area - otherwise people would have simply died of hunger. But we still guarded the reserve. If not on horseback, then on foot ..." Despite the poverty, scientific work did not stop. Already in 1926, zoologist A. P. Korovin began the first ecological studies, later continued by L. M. Shulpin. Geologists, botanists, paleontologists studied the reserve, and Trizna tirelessly petitioned for the introduction of full-time scientific staff. Only in 1935 his efforts were crowned with success: the first full-time scientist, botanist A.P. Massalsky, appeared in Aksu-Zhabagly. This was a turning point: the reserve was finally turning into a scientific center.
Tragic ending and immortal legacy -
In 1936, Boris Petrovich Trizna was undeservedly repressed. His further fate is unknown, his grave was not found. But the work of his life outlived him. Today, Aksu-Zhabagly is one of the largest reserves in Kazakhstan, where dozens of scientists work. And then, in the 20-30s, it was kept afloat by a handful of enthusiasts led by a man who believed that nature should not only be taken, but also protected. His name must not be forgotten. After all, it was people like Trizna who created the foundation of environmental science, proving that even in the most difficult times, a corner of wild nature can be preserved untouched for future generations.
Attractions nearby:
Aksu Canyon (Aksu River Canyon)
Aksu River
Kishi-Kaindy Gorge
Waterfall on the Kishi-Kaindy River
Koksai Gorge
Kaskabulak Petroglyphs
Darbaza Tract
Tulips of the Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve
Zhabagly Village
"Skazka" Cave near the village of Ak-Biik
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