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Flamingos: a flock on Lake Karakol in Mangystau

Flamingos in Kazakhstan: the world's northernmost colony

Greater flamingos breed on the islands of Lake Tengiz, further north than anywhere else. The Ramsar description says up to 14,000 pairs, though we found no recent census.

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Photo: Максат79 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Flamingos in Kazakhstan nest mainly on Lake Tengiz, at the centre of the Korgalzhyn reserve. The Ramsar site description calls the colony on its mud islands the northernmost in the world, at up to 14,000 breeding pairs. The reserve’s deputy director places it on small islands off the eastern shore.

What to expect on a visit

PlaceWhenReality check
Korgalzhyn, Lake TengizSummerGuide and route needed; the “Flamingo” route is 155 km; the colony is far off
Akzhaiyk, Ural deltaMay and SeptemberStopover on passage; entry procedure unconfirmed
Lake Karakol, MangystauEarly OctoberOne press report in The Astana Times; no guarantee

Stay away from colony islands and do not fly a drone. Bring binoculars. For more on planning, see birdwatching in Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan’s nature reserves.

Korgalzhyn: flamingo silhouette against the rising sun on a Korgalzhyn lake, August dawn
Korgalzhyn: a flamingo silhouette at dawn. Dildakhmet · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

How the numbers changed

These figures use different units, so do not read them as a single trend.

YearFigureSource
1906A colony of about 50 birdsResearch article
195315,000 nestsResearch article
1960s45,000–60,000 birdsKazinform
200010,000–15,000 birdsKazinform
May 201718,000 birds in an aerial countInformburo
March 202510,000–50,000 birds, ministry estimateKazinform
Not verified yet
  • For 2025 we found only the ministry’s estimate of 10,000–50,000 birds, and no published census for 2025 or 2026.
  • Nobody can say in advance whether the colony will be visible from a route in a given year. It depends on the water level in Tengiz.

Frequently asked questions

Are there flamingos in Kazakhstan?
Yes. Greater flamingos nest on Lake Tengiz in the Korgalzhyn reserve, about 160 km from Astana according to The Astana Times, and pass through western Kazakhstan on migration.
Can I see the flamingo colony up close?
No. The colony is on islands that you should not approach, and its position depends on the lake level. Visits run on arranged routes with a guide.
Are flamingos protected in Kazakhstan?
Yes. The greater flamingo is number 122 on the national list under Decree No. 1034.

Sources

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