Structure and distribution of hunting animals in Bukhara

Hunting farms are an important aspect of the use of the animal world and are of vital importance in the development of hunting tourism, biodiversity conservation, and rational use of nature [Ishunin, 1984]. As a result of the study, officially 13 species of animals were identified in 5 hunting farms of the Bukhara region in 2014-2017 (Table 1). In the region, officially hunted species make up 8.2% of the vertebrate species (158 species) allowed for hunting in Uzbekistan.

The observations and surveys showed that 10 types of hunting (Canis lupus, Felis libyca, Ondatra zibethicus, Gazella subgutturoza, Phasianus colchicus, Columba livia, Merops superciliosus, Agrionemys horsfieldi, Varanus griseus, Eryx miliaris) were illegal or poaching. Thus, 23 species of vertebrate animals were identified in the region (Fig. 1).

Table 1

The main types of hunting in the Bukhara region and their distribution in hunting farms (2014–2018)

S/n	Species	Hunting farms
		Korakir	Shurkul	Zikri	Karakul forestry farms	“Peshku Korakir fortress” LTD
1	Sus scrofa	+	–	–	+	+
2	Meles meles	+	–	+	–	+
3	Lepus capensis	+	+	+	+	+
4	Vulpes vulpes	+	+	+	+	+
5	Canis aureus	+	+	+	+	+
6	Anser anser	+	+	+	+	+
7	Netta rufina	+	+	+	+	+
8	Aythya ferina	+	+	+	+	+
9	Anas platyrhynchos	+	+	+	+	+
10	Anas crecca	+	+	+	+	+
11	Fulica atra	+	+	+	+	+
12	Phalacrocorax carbo	+	+	+	+	+
13	Pterocles orientalis	+	+	+	+	+
Total		13	11	12	12	13

Fig. 1. Percentage of official and informal types of hunting species in Bukhara region

Korakir and "Peshku avoid fortress" LTD hunting farms are located in the liveliest part of the Korakir lake for hunting, with all the main types of hunting in the region — 13 species of animals. There is very little vegetation cover for the animals around Shchurkul lake, so 11 species of animals are being hunted in the Shorkul hunting farm.

All hunting farms in the region are located in the coastal zone of water and reservoirs [Atakhodzhaev, Sudarev, 2017; Ametov et al., 2018]. Especially in the desert zone, biodiversity conservation is a clear indication of the importance of reservoirs in the collection of water and water birds, which form the basis of hunting facilities, where the distribution and density of the species grown are closely linked to complete water basins and existing ecological conditions. The diversity of hunting facilities in hunting farms serves as a unique bioindicator for evaluating the economic environment [Naumov, 1963].

The analysis of scientific researches, reports and statistical data shows that the list of species in the country is not complete, that the reports submitted by hunting farms do not meet the requirements, and that the hunters do not have enough knowledge about the species being hunted. They include species that are not allowed to hunt in Uzbekistan or that are not practically hunted by hunters ( Podiceps cristatus, Ardea cinerea, Streptopelia decaocto, Streptopelia turtur, Sturnus vulgaris etc.).

In 2014–2017, hunting farms studied the size of hunted animals. The average annual size of hunted animals are as high as the species such as Anatidae (Netta rufina, Aythya ferina, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca) (6720), Fulica atra (1983) and Anser anser (1978). The average annual hunting capacity of Sus scrofa (7), Vulpes vulpes (6) and Canis aureus (7) is very low. There is a low share of mammals in the total number of species as 9.5% (Fig. 2)

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Avoid Shurkul

Zikri Karakul

Peshku Korakir fortress

Fig. 2. Average Annual Size of Hunted Animals in Hunting Farms (in percent)

Due to the end of industrial hunting and falling need for fur, the species such as Ondatra zibethicus, Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes , are not very rarely hunted or never hunted in the country in 2014–2017. It has led to the loss of these species as an object of hunting.

According to the results of the study, excessive hunting of species such as Alectoris chukar, Lepus capensis in Uzbekistan has resulted in a decrease in the number of species such as Vulpes vulpes, Canis aureus , which resulted in their rarely hunting.

This can lead to the likelihood of further spread of diseases that may endanger nature and human health.

G. I. Ishunin (1984) notes that the decline or the loss in the number of livestock in Uzbekistan is associated with a natural disaster (adverse climate) that occurs in 8–20 years. In our opinion, it is possible to prevent the mass extermination of the species through adverse weather forecasting and appropriate biotech activities. However, due to

inadequate biotech activities, hunting facilities are damaging to climate and nutritional deficiencies.

In summary, the efficiency of hunting farms in Bukhara region is related to the ecological conditions in the reservoirs, the organization of biotechnical activities, the negative anthropogenic factors, and the rate of hunting of hunting areas.