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 The Bukhara deer, better known as the Bactrian Wapiti, is one of the most endangered species of mammals in the world. No more then 350-400 deer existed in 1999. Since then, conservation efforts have lead to stabilization and population growth in riparian forests of some areas in the species range. As a result, the last census showed population growth with a population of up to 800 deer. However, conservation efforts have yet to reach the major bukhara deer habitat, Tigrovaja balka in Tajikistan, where up to 1/3 of the total population resides. This is the most important reserve in Central Asia in terms of total area and representation of ecosystems and rare species of the floodplain (riparian) forests.
As a native floodplain forest, the area of Tigrovaya Balka needs regular floods, but natural floods have been prevented by an artificial system of dams and dikes that divert water for agriculture in areas outside of the reserve. Water needs to be supplied to the forest at least once a year to provide the valuable moisture and reduce soil salinity. Therefore it is necessary to dig a canal from the river to strategic locations within the zapovednik that can flow throughout these historical watershed areas.
There were three extremely dry years in Central Asia one after another, and the forest started to degrade because of lack of water and high level of salination. They are currently experiencing their second wet year in a row and there was hope for forest rehabilitation, but this didn’t happen because riparian forests need flooding, not just humidity, to take accumulated salts out of the soils.
If a system of canals is not cleared, the forests won’t receive the necessary water and the degradation will continue. As a result the major riparian forest would be lost, while the bukhara deer would lose one of its major habitats.
In 2005, the U.S. Seal Conservation Fund of the Minnesota Zoo gave $2,500 to this project to fund rental of earth-moving machinery to clear and reconstruct the dike system for this ecologically important habitat. In the fall of that year a 4.2 mile long channel was cleared and water has started to flow once again to the large southern section of Tigrovaja balka. Staff champion for this project is Tony Fisher, Collection Manager.
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