Karaganda resident who kept 35 birds of prey at home amnestied

A court in Karaganda sentenced a man who illegally acquired and kept 35 hunting birds of prey, including rare and endangered species, at his home. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

The case of the lover of red-listed birds was considered by the Kazybekbi District Court. He was charged under Part 1 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan — illegal acquisition and storage of rare species of animals and birds.

As the court established, in 2017 the man created an Instagram page called tanat.falcons, where he wrote about national hunting with hunting birds, and also talked about their keeping, care, and treatment.

From 2017 to February 5, 2026, he acquired rare birds from unknown sellers without proper permits. In total, 35 birds were seized from the defendant.

According to experts, among them were 31 saker falcons, one peregrine falcon, two golden eagles, and one goshawk.

In court, the man fully admitted his guilt and repented.

The prosecutor asked to sentence the defendant to one year of restriction of freedom and to ban activities related to rare animals and birds for three years. The man himself and his lawyer petitioned for amnesty.

The court took into account as mitigating circumstances full admission of guilt, sincere repentance, and the presence of four minor children. No aggravating circumstances were established.

"The man was sentenced to one year and six months of restriction of freedom and was deprived of the right to engage in activities related to rare and endangered animal species for one year. At the same time, on the basis of the law 'On Amnesty in Connection with the Adoption of the New Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan', the man was released from the main punishment in the form of restriction of freedom," the court reported.

The verdict has not yet entered into legal force.

Earlier, Kursiv reported that the birds seized from the man are temporarily kept at the Karaganda Zoo, but after the court verdict enters into force, they will be released into their natural habitat.