Kazakhstan to enforce strict measures to protect its ancient dog breed
Bibigul Zheksenbai, a member of the Senate, the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, proposed in her inquiry to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov that the export of native Kazakh Tazy breed dogs be banned, crossbreeding be penalized and the Tazy and Tobet Dogs Day be rescheduled to November.
Zheksenbai referred to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s statement on the necessity of additional measures to protect the purity of the Tazy and Tobet breeds and to prevent the uncontrolled export of these dogs.
She cited Japan as an example, where the export of traditional Japanese breeds, Akita Inu and Shiba Inu, is allowed only with a permit from the state.
«Kazakhstan also needs strict measures on this issue. It is important to either completely prohibit the export of the dog or introduce a requirement for exporters to obtain special permission from authorities. Additionally, administrative measures should be implemented to prevent the crossbreeding of Tazy and impose strict liability for such violations,» Zheksenbai stated.
She also believes that rescheduling the Tazy and Tobet Dogs Day to the beginning of the hunting season would be the right decision. To add more significance and spirit to the holiday, the senator suggested making a movie based on Mukhtar Magauin’s novel «Death of Tazy.»
In late 2024, Kazakhstan’s National Institute of Intellectual Property granted a patent for the selection of the Tazy breed to the Republican Association of Public Associations of Hunters and Hunting Entities «Kansonar.»
However, the Union of Cynologists of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Ecology stated that the patent was unlawfully issued, as the Tazy had already been officially recognized worldwide as an ancient Kazakh breed.
The patent could pose a risk by allowing its holder to monopolize the rights to breed, sell and export these dogs, thereby hindering other breeders and threatening the preservation of the gene pool.
Yesterday, on March 19, the Astana court ruled to dismiss the patent following a lawsuit filed by the Union of Cynologists of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Ecology.
