ASTANA — Kazakhstan’s first temporary rehabilitation center for injured birds of prey and endangered wild birds has opened in the Mangystau Region, providing veterinary treatment and rehabilitation before the animals are released back into their natural habitat. Specialists at the center conduct medical examinations, provide treatment and oversee rehabilitation until the birds are fit to return to the wild. The Mangystau Region lies along one of the country’s most important migratory bird routes. The initiative builds on years of volunteer work by wildlife advocates and veterinarians in Aktau, the region’s administrative center, who treated injured birds without dedicated funding. Their work later drew the attention of regional authorities, leading to discussions to establish a specialized rehabilitation center.