The Shikauch reserve is under attack: Azerbaijan has conquered a sixth of the unique territory, and the animals are paying with their lives. Azerbaijan has gradually conquered about 21 square meters. km from the sovereign territory of Armenia in the southeastern part of the enlarged Kapan community - towards the villages of Narkin Hand and Chav. This happened after the 44 day war in 2020 and continues to this day. Most of these lands, which are owned by the state, belong to the Shikauch State Reserve. Since its total area is 120 square kilometers, about a sixth of the reserve, which was founded in 1958, was under the control of the Azerbaijani forces. In the occupied territory and in the nearby communal lands of Kapan, according to the source, forests were cut down, military roads were laid, positions were opened and mining was carried out. Zoologist Harut Agtalian, born in the village of Shikauch, worked in the local reserve for about ten years and walked miles every day studying the flora and fauna. After the border line was changed, the working conditions changed fundamentally, but he continued to work as the head of the science and tourism department in the reserve. He told Hatak about a case that he believes is one of the most difficult in his line of work: a mother bear, who was allegedly blown up by a landmine and lost two legs, moved in a roll, but continued to feed the cubs. The animal was extremely emaciated. According to Agtalian, the captured area was a critical migration corridor for wildlife. Among them is a Central Asian tiger, a bezoar goat and a brown bear, which are listed in the Red Book of Armenia. The largest variety of species was recorded in this part of Sionik. The zoologist emphasizes: "Shikauch" has a rich biosphere - 1,100 species of vascular plants and 214 species of vertebrates, including more than 150 species of birds, were recorded here.

The Shikauch reserve is under attack: Azerbaijan has conquered a sixth of the unique territory, and the animals are paying with their lives. Azerbaijan has gradually conquered about 21 square meters. km from the sovereign territory of Armenia in the southeastern part of the enlarged Kapan community - towards the villages of Narkin Hand and Chav. This happened after the 44 day war in 2020 and continues to this day. Most of these lands, which are owned by the state, belong to the Shikauch State Reserve. Since its total area is 120 square kilometers, about a sixth of the reserve, which was founded in 1958, was under the control of the Azerbaijani forces. In the occupied territory and in the nearby communal lands of Kapan, according to the source, forests were cut down, military roads were laid, positions were opened and mining was carried out. Zoologist Harut Agtalian, born in the village of Shikauch, worked in the local reserve for about ten years and walked miles every day studying the flora and fauna. After the border line was changed, the working conditions changed fundamentally, but he continued to work as the head of the science and tourism department in the reserve. He told Hatak about a case that he believes is one of the most difficult in his line of work: a mother bear, who was allegedly blown up by a landmine and lost two legs, moved in a roll, but continued to feed the cubs. The animal was extremely emaciated. According to Agtalian, the captured area was a critical migration corridor for wildlife. Among them is a Central Asian tiger, a bezoar goat and a brown bear, which are listed in the Red Book of Armenia. The largest variety of species was recorded in this part of Sionik. The zoologist emphasizes: "Shikauch" has a rich biosphere - 1,100 species of vascular plants and 214 species of vertebrates, including more than 150 species of birds, were recorded here.