Photographs of a killed striped hyena, which is added to the Red Book (Hyaena hyaena hyaena), have been circulating on social networks. The situation was studied by officers of the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Surkhandarya province together with the National Guard, the press service of the Ministry of Ecology said.
According to the ministry, the killing of the animal took place at the end of October - beginning of November 2023 in the Obodon mahalla of the Shurchi district of Surkhandarya. Damage to nature is estimated at 1 billion 60 thousand soums.
Experts examined the place of residence of individual, Sh. Kh. and found animal bones, which were sent for research to the relevant organizations to obtain a scientific conclusion. After receiving the conclusion, the documents will be sent to the prosecutor's office.
As the Ministry of Ecology added, striped hyenas live in the border zone with Tajikistan, their number is estimated at 20 to 30 species.
As per the Article 202 of the Criminal Code, the killing of animals listed in the Red Book is punishable by a fine in the amount of 400 to 600 Basic settlement units (136-204 million soums, 11 to 16 thousand USD) or house arrest from 3 to 5 years or imprisonment from 3 to 5 years.
The striped hyena is a fairly large animal. The height at the withers is up to 80 cm, the weight of males is up to 55-60 kg, in exceptional cases 90 cm and 70 kg, respectively, but usually much less. The only hyena found outside the African continent. Found throughout northern Africa, in large parts of Asia from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Bengal. It is found in Armenia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, but is very rare and protected everywhere.
In December, the size of fines for causing harm to animals and plants listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan was raised by 10 and 5 times, respectively.
