The story of a small Central Asian tortoise has reached the big screen. In Astana, a film by a British director about one of the most resilient inhabitants of the Ustyurt Plateau was presented. The film follows the life of this remarkable animal in extreme conditions—from harsh steppe winters to exhausting summer heat. Filming took place over several years in the Mangystau region, with the support of the Tasbaqa nature protection fund. According to Saxon Bosworth, the aim of the film is not only to tell the story of a rare tortoise species, but also, more broadly, to highlight the importance of caring for nature.
«So, the film’s been several years in the making. I became very fascinated by the Ustyurt Plateau and natural mysteries surrounding the plateau. And so, it’s very important for me that this film has a bigger mission, which is a film that explores the story of the Tasbaqa of Ustyurt, but also is a representation of conservation. And I’d love to do more screenings in universities and schools in particular,» Bosworth said.
International wildlife photography exhibition underway in Astana
The environmental agenda in the capital is also reflected in an exhibition opened to coincide with the Regional Ecological Summit. It features the best works from an international wildlife photography competition run by the Natural History Museum in London for over sixty years. The exhibition showcases unique images reflecting the fragile balance between humanity, the environment, and natural ecosystems. Organizers note that the exhibition aims to draw attention to issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the need for collective global action.
«So
we very much welcome Kazakhstan’s ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions
by 2060 and the fact that they have updated their nationally determined
contribution to reduce carbon emissions by 17% by 2035. So I think Kazakhstan,
in organising this summit, has shown its ambition in this area and they are
working on the plan for how they will get there. Kazakhstan has a really good
track record of protecting its own biodiversity, and we are really keen to
partner more with Kazakhstan, to work in this area,» said Sally
Axworthy, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
Related Articles
