Archaeologists in northeastern Uzbekistan have discovered stone arrowheads in the Obi-Rahmat cave that could significantly alter current understandings of early human hunting practices. The findings, published in PLOS ONE, date back approximately 80,000 years and represent some of the earliest known examples of long-range hunting technology in Central Asia.

The excavation site, located in the western foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains, yielded a collection of small, triangular stone points embedded within sediment layers representing 40,000 years of human occupation. Researchers concluded that the arrow-like tips are too slender to have served any purpose other than as projectiles, making them among the oldest ranged hunting tools ever found in the region.

Until now, such finely crafted projectile points had been primarily associated with later Homo sapiens sites in Europe, dating back only 25,000 years. Their presence in Uzbekistan suggests that sophisticated hunting techniques involving lightweight weapons may have developed far earlier than previously believed.

The arrowheads were uncovered alongside a broader assemblage of Early Middle Paleolithic tools, including blades, bladelets, and flakes. The toolset reflects both continuity with Levantine lithic traditions and unique adaptations specific to Central Asia. Researchers used microscopic trace analysis to identify impact damage patterns on the points, clear evidence of high-speed delivery mechanisms such as arrows or darts.

Experts note that ranged weapons would have provided early humans with significant evolutionary advantages, allowing them to hunt more efficiently and with reduced risk. This technological innovation may have been crucial in supporting human migration and adaptation across Eurasia.

Broader Archaeological Context

This discovery adds to a growing body of archaeological breakthroughs in Uzbekistan. In October 2024, researchers using advanced laser scanning technology revealed two lost cities in the country’s southeast. These urban centers, which thrived between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, include a site believed to have been a metalworking hub and another that showed early Islamic cultural influences, underscoring the importance of Uzbekistan along ancient trade routes.

Further excavations in December at Mengchaktepa, a key Silk Road settlement on the northern bank of the Syr Darya River, yielded new insights. Known as the “Living Fossil of the Silk Road,” the site has been under continuous investigation since 2012 through a joint expedition by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Uzbekistan’s Institute of Archaeology.

Efforts to protect wildlife in Kazakhstan, particularly rare and endangered species, have begun yielding results. Animals listed in the national Red Book are increasingly venturing into human settlements. While some encounters are harmless or even humorous, others pose real dangers.

A Curious Visitor in Serebryansk

On August 18, a large brown bear wandered into the central square of Serebryansk, a city in East Kazakhstan. CCTV footage captured the bear approaching the city administration building. 

The bear had previously been seen on the city’s outskirts in early August, prompting residents to alert the forestry and hunting emergency response team. These teams are typically dispatched to relocate animals in distress or posing threats. However, the inspectors were unable to locate the bear, and it eventually made its way to city hall.

Local residents responded with humor, joking on social media that the bear had come to pay a fine or meet the mayor. Despite the levity, city officials issued a serious warning, urging residents to stay indoors after 6 p.m. until the bear could be safely relocated. They also cautioned that feeding the bear or attempting selfies could be fatal.

The authorities also reminded the public of basic safety rules in areas inhabited by predators: never approach bear cubs, as their mothers may become aggressive, and do not attempt to run from a bear unless immediate shelter is available. Even well-fed bears can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Bear sightings are relatively common in East Kazakhstan, with reports this summer from Ridder, the Sibinsk Lakes area, and the village of Bobrovka in Glubokovsky district.

Bears in the Red Book and Beyond

Two subspecies of brown bears inhabit Kazakhstan: the Tianshan brown bear, which lives in the Tian Shan and Dzungarian Alatau mountains, and the South Siberian brown bear, found in the Altai region. The Tian Shan brown bear is listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book of endangered species, while the South Siberian bear is still legally hunted under regulated conditions. 

According to the Ministry of Ecology, the South Siberian brown bear population rose from 3,265 in 2022 to 3,578 in 2023. Hunting is permitted in limited numbers and only under supervision. 

The red-listed Tianshan brown bear population remains smaller. As of 2023, experts estimated 500-600 individuals nationwide. 

In Ile-Alatau National Park, partly located within Almaty city limits, about 70 Tianshan bears were recorded in 2022. The park regularly hosts educational events to raise awareness of the species. Elsewhere, roughly 270 Tianshan brown bears inhabit Kazakhstan’s portion of the Tien Shan, and more than 350 live in the Zhetysu Alatau. 

Dangerous Neighbors

Despite conservation gains, human-bear encounters can end tragically. A tourist in Serebryansk recalled that in 2023, a female bear and her cubs foraged for food in summer cottages, destroying gardens and evading attempts to drive them away.

A more serious incident occurred in May 2020 in the Almaty region, when a Russian man was fatally attacked by a bear while returning from a fishing trip. Mistaking a bear cub for small game, he approached on foot, prompting a deadly defensive attack from the mother. Authorities later confirmed that the bear was not killed, as the attack had been provoked. 

Snow Leopards Making a Comeback

Kazakhstan has also seen a resurgence in its population of snow leopards (irbis), another species listed in the Red Book. Hunting them is a criminal offense. According to the Ministry of Ecology, the number of snow leopards has doubled since 2020, reaching approximately 180 individuals by 2024. 

Protected areas covering 3.6 million hectares now shelter about 70% of the snow leopard’s habitat. Conservationists use camera traps and satellite telemetry to monitor the animals, and eleven individuals have been fitted with tracking collars.

In 2023, a female snow leopard and her three cubs were captured on camera in East Kazakhstan. Several more sightings were recorded in the Almaty region. In March 2024, a snow leopard was photographed by a tourist on a snow-covered slope in the Shymbulak Mountains near Almaty. 

Kazakhstan’s automotive industry posted strong growth in July 2025, producing 11,700 vehicles valued at KZT 164.9 billion ($305.3 million), according to the Kazakhstan Automobile Union. This represents a 50.1% increase in production volume compared to July 2024.

Data from the National Statistics Bureau shows that in July 2024, the country produced 7,800 vehicles worth KZT 100.9 billion ($186.8 million). Over the past year, the industry has not only expanded output but also significantly boosted revenue.

From January to July 2025, Kazakhstan produced 83,200 vehicles valued at KZT 1.16 trillion ($21.4 billion), marking a 16.7% year-on-year increase. The automotive sector now accounts for 40.7% of the national engineering industry. Passenger cars led the growth, with 75,400 units produced, up 19% from the same period last year.

Bus production also saw a 5.5% uptick, totaling more than 1,300 units. In contrast, truck output declined by 10.5% to 4,100 vehicles. Manufacturers also turned out 1,900 trailers and semi-trailers, along with 453 special-purpose vehicles.

Regional Breakdown

Kostanay remains the top manufacturing hub, producing 45,700 vehicles, a 6.9% increase, at Allur’s facilities. In Almaty, the Hyundai Trans Kazakhstan and Hyundai Trans Almaty plants reported a record 41.8% increase, assembling 31,200 vehicles.

Production trends varied in other regions:

• Semey: Down 17.5% (2,400 units)
• Karaganda region (QazTehna): Up 28.1%
• Kokshetau (KAMAZ-Engineering): Up 34.6%

Top Brands and Models

The most produced brands from January to July were:

• Hyundai: 30,800 units
• Chevrolet: 16,500
• Kia: 14,800
• Jetour: 7,100
• Jac: 5,600

Leading models included the Chevrolet Cobalt (13,600 units), Hyundai Tucson (11,900), Kia Sportage (nearly 7,000), Hyundai Elantra (4,900), and Hyundai Mufasa (4,600).

Anar Makasheva, President of the Kazakhstani Automobile Union, credited the industry’s progress to the expertise of more than 8,000 specialists:

“The growth in production strengthens the position of the domestic automotive industry and opens up new opportunities for enterprises.”

She also announced the upcoming launch of two new plants: the multi-brand Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan facility in Almaty and a new KIA production line in Kostanay. Together, these projects are expected to create over 5,000 jobs.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan set a record for car sales in 2024. Domestic automotive production is projected to reach approximately 150,000 vehicles in 2025.

In 2025, approximately 50,000 hectares of agricultural land in Kyrgyzstan were left uncultivated, according to the National Statistical Committee. This figure represents a significant portion of the country’s total arable land area, which stands at 1.292 million hectares. 

Experts attribute the sharp decline primarily to a lack of moisture during the spring growing season. More than half of the affected land, over 25,000 hectares, suffered from irrigation failures due to the deteriorating state of the country’s water infrastructure. An additional 5,000 hectares lie in inaccessible or rocky terrain, while about 8,000 hectares were previously reassigned for industrial or urban development.

The committee also noted a year-on-year increase of 1,100 hectares in the area of fallow land. In the Talas region alone, 25% more land could have been cultivated under better conditions. Across Kyrgyzstan’s regions, the share of idle arable land currently ranges between 10% and 20%.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce reported that the water shortage not only reduced the amount of cultivated land but also impacted crop yields. Many crops ripened several weeks earlier than usual, accelerating the harvest period. As a result, the growth rate of gross agricultural output slowed by more than 2% in the first half of 2025.

However, not all sectors were negatively affected. The gross harvest of melons and gourds rose by nearly 13%, vegetable production increased by 12%, and potato yields were up 10% compared to the previous year.