A group of the specialists of the Galankyr State Reserve Research Department returned from a regular working trip. Within a week the specialists conducted research in the vast area of protected territories in the Dashoguz Velayat.

The Gaplankyr State Reserve is the largest in the country. It occupies 282,800 hectares. For its unique natural landscapes, a remarkable diversity of animal and plant life it gained fame of ‘a pearl of the Turkmen land’. On the north, it borders on the Ustyurt Plateau consisting primarily of stony desert and the Sarakamysh cavity, on the southeastern, it borders on the old Uzboy riverbed. On the west, the local landscape comprises a deep precipice. The name Gaplankyr is originated from the word ‘a cheetah’ (‘gum gaplany’ in Turkmen) who inhabited these places in remote time.

The plant life in Kaplankyr is a real green treasure including over 300 species. The specialists are to conduct substantial work to study the healing qualities of the endemic species. The some endemic plant species are inscribed on the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan. The local specialists conduct the thorough work on to reproduce the extinct plant species in a nursery forest planted in the territory of the Gaplankyr Reserve

The animal life in the Gaplankyr Reserve impresses with its diversity. To date, 45 mammal species have been registered in the Gaplankyr Reserve. The rare animal species such as Caracal, dziggetai, Saiga Antelope, Honey Badger and Indian Porcupine inscribed on the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan inhabit the Gaplankyr Reserve. The argali settle on the rocks of the Southern Ustyurt Plateau, in the chinks in the precipices of Gaplankyr. Dziggetai was regarded as an extinct species in the northern region of Turkmenistan some years ago. Several animals were brought there in 1987. To date, the livestock of dziggetai who quickly acclimatized to the climatic conditions in the native land has considerably increased. The herds of dziggetai inhabit the territories near the Zengibaba Lake, the depressions of Sarakamysh, the foothills of the Ustuyrt Plateau, the arid zones of Yedikhovuz, Gulantakyr and Dusheklidash, near the Mashryk-aji well and settlements Gazanly and Bent.

According to recent observations, the local ornitofauna is enlarged. 198 bird species inhabit the territory of the Gaplankyr Reserve. 32 species build nests in the desert zones and 26 species – near the water bodies, the rest are migrant and wintering bird species. The Passerine are large in number, skylarks in particular. During the recent expedition the specialists of the Gaplankyr Reserve were surprised to find a nest with the fledglings of an eagle owl. Flamingoes, cranes, fish-hawks, spoon-bills, pelicans and other bird species inscribed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan inhabit the vicinities of the Sarakamych Lake. The rare species – a bustard occur in the Gaplankyr Reserve.

The herpetofauna of the Gaplankyr Reserve includes 16 reptile species – the Central Asian tortoise, eight lizard species and seven snake species. The Central Asian cobra and grey monitor lizard inscribed on the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan inhabit the Gaplankyr hills.

In recent years the specialists focus the activity on breeding rare and endangered species under artificial conditions to return into the reserved territories in the northern region.