Telikol Lakes (22080)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Telikol Lakes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.0667, Longitude: 66.8167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 125 to 129
Area of KBA (km2): 1593.54781
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA consists of a group of small and medium sized lakes created where the waters of the Sarysu river and the course of the Sydariya river's artificial canal, Telikol, end. The wetland system is situated approximately 100 km to the north-east of the regional centre of Kyzyl-Orda and the same distance from the western edge of the Karatau mountain range to the south-east. The lakes occupy a series of shallow depressions in a bleak slightly undulating sandy-clayey desert plain, with sparse vegetation, mainly Salsola- and Artemisia-dominated associations. There are also scattered stands of Haloxylon (Saxaul) and Tamarix. All of the lakes have extensive reedbeds. Around each lake there are patches of saline land. In spring, when there is rapid melt-water runoff from the surrounding areas, the whole area floods extensively.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The site is important for several species of global conservation concern (Aythya nyroca, Pelecanus crispus, Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Circus macrourus, Aquila clanga, Chlamydotis undulata and Oxyura leucocephala) plus many other waterbirds including Phalacrocorax pygmaeus, Egretta alba, Ardea cinerea, Anser anser and Cygnus olor. In autumn the lakes are an important staging area for large numbers of ducks, the most numerous being Anas strepera, Anas crecca, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas penelope, Anas clypeata and Netta rufina. Breeding by Marmaronetta angustirostris is considered possible as the species has been recorded several times on passage at Kyzylkol Lake which is situated a little further to the south-east of the IBA. Non-bird biodiversity: Sus scrofa, Canis areus, Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Felis libyca, Meles meles and Lepus tolai.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The Telikol Lakes are assigned to the regional hunting society. The ecological conditions of the lakes vary according to the water management regime in the Syrdariya river basin. Because of the very harsh environmental conditions, the human population density is low and economic activities are insignificant.
Land use: hunting (100%) | water management (50%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 70 | |
| Desert | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Occasional fires can cause disturbance to birds and, in the long run, may result in habitat deterioration.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Zarudny N.A. Birds of Aral Sea.// Proceedings of Turkestan Division of RGS, 1916, v. 12, issue 1, P. 1-229. (In Russian) Kovalenko A.V. Ornithological surveys in the region of lower reaches of Syrdariya river and several contiguous territories in 2005. // Kazakhstan Ornithological Bulletin 2005. Almaty, 2006. P. 59-69. (In Russian) Spanguenber E.P., Feiguin G.A. Birds of lower reaches of Syrdariya river and contiguous territories. //Transactions of Zool. Museum of Moscow University, M., V. 3, P. 41-184.