Person detained for keeping a tiger and snake at home

A resident of the Tashkent district in the Tashkent region was detained for illegally keeping one tiger and seven tiger pythons in his apartment, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change reported.

According to the statement, a joint control raid was conducted by the regional Ecology Department, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the regional Internal Affairs Department, and the National Guard.

During the raid, it was discovered that Sh. A., a resident of the Tutzar rural municipality in the district, was unlawfully housing one Amur tiger and seven tiger pythons in his home.

The wild animals were seized and transferred to the Tashkent Zoo. The Prosecutor General’s Office is currently carrying out a legal assessment of the case.

For reference, under Resolution No. 736 of the Cabinet of Ministers, titled “On Measures to Improve the Procedure for Keeping Wild Animals,” effective January 1, 2025, it will be prohibited for individuals to keep a large number of wild animals in captivity (based on a specific list) or to use wild animals in circus performances. According to the resolution, prohibited animals may only be kept by legal entities with the proper permits from the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, and only in authorized facilities such as zoos, nurseries, terrariums, or oceanariums.

It should be recalled that earlier reports revealed more than 80 wild animals were being kept illegally in captivity in Tashkent city and the surrounding region.