There is a decrease in the number of animal species kept in local zoos in Uzbekistan. Despite this reduction, public interest in zoo animals continues to grow, which is reflected in an increase in visitors.
There is a decrease in the number of animal species kept in local zoos in Uzbekistan. Despite this reduction, public interest in zoo animals continues to grow, which is reflected in an increase in visitors.
According to information from the National Committee on Statistics, there are seven operating zoos in the country as of the beginning of 2026. These institutions are located in Karakalpakstan, Andijan, Kashkadarya, Namangan, Surkhandarya, and Fergana regions, as well as in Tashkent.
The total number of animal species represented in these zoos is 744. This figure shows a decrease of 107 species compared to 2024, corresponding to a collection reduction of more than 12 percent.
Regarding attendance, the zoos welcomed over 1.46 million guests in 2025, which is almost 19% higher than the previous year's figures. The average attendance was 387 visits per ten thousand residents.
In one incident that occurred at the Tashkent Zoo, a visitor threw water towards the enclosure of white lions, subsequently admitted their mistake, and apologized.
An international group of scientists concluded that domesticated silkworms from China appeared in Central Asia approximately 4,000 years ago, two thousand years earlier than the formation of the Silk Road.
These findings are based on the study of archaeological finds discovered at the Bronze Age site of Sapalitepa in southern Uzbekistan. The results of the study were published on July 23 in the scientific journal Science Advances.
The work was based on the analysis of three dried silkworm cocoons and mulberry remains found by Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists during fieldwork between 2017 and 2019. Specialists from six scientific institutions in China, Uzbekistan, Germany, and the United States participated in the study.
The authors of the study note that it was previously believed that the spread of Chinese silk to the west began only during the Han Dynasty when the Silk Road emerged. However, new data, according to the researchers, indicates a significantly earlier spread of sericulture technology.
Professor Xia Qingyu from Southwest University in Chongqing reported that protein analysis confirmed that the found cocoons belonged to the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori). According to him, this species cannot exist without humans and feeds exclusively on mulberry leaves. The age of the finds is estimated to be approximately 4,000 years.
The head of the research, Zhou Xinying from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted that archaeologists discovered not only cocoons but also evidence of mulberry cultivation. According to her, this may indicate the adoption of silk production in Central Asia long before the emergence of the Silk Road.
Analysis of soil samples from Sapalitepa revealed thousands of plant remains near the three silkworm cocoons. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy showed that the fiber structure corresponds to Bombyx mori cocoons. Nevertheless, the ancient fibers were thinner than modern ones, which, according to the authors, may suggest an early stage of domestication of this species.
Furthermore, scientists discovered mulberry charcoal at three archaeological sites: Sapalitepa, Djarkutan, and Molali. Researcher Shen Hui reported that the proportion of mulberry wood increased from 10 percent in Sapalitepa to 60 percent in Molali, which may indicate a gradual expansion of its cultivation.
Scientists also identified remains of citrus tree wood, whose natural habitat is in the southeastern Himalayas. The authors believe this indicates contacts between Central and South Asia during the Bronze Age.
By analyzing archaeological data on the distribution of mulberry in Asia, scientists hypothesized that sericulture traditions spread from China along the southern slopes of the Himalayas and then reached Central Asia, rather than through northern routes that later became part of the Silk Road.
The authors of the study believe that the results obtained allow sericulture's spread to be viewed as part of a broader process of early interregional contacts, alongside the spread of millet, wheat, domestic animals, and metallurgical technologies between China, Central, and South Asia in the third and second millennia BCE.
In their opinion, this discovery opens up new avenues for studying the history of sericulture and the routes through which this technology spread in ancient Eurasia.
Indian Railways is known as the lifeblood of the country, transporting millions of people daily. However, videos occasionally appear online that question passenger carelessness and the misuse of public property. Previously, there have been recordings circulating about fights over seating, torn seat covers, or train arson.
A recent video that went viral on social media shows a passenger traveling on a train with a small desk fan. He then attempts to plug the fan's cord into a charging socket in the train. Following the appearance of this video on social networks, a heated discussion ensued.
It is reported that the fan the passenger intended to use is a household appliance operating on 220 volts of alternating current, whereas the train's chargers are not designed for such devices. This is why the fan did not work.
This is not the first instance of disputes regarding the improper use of charging devices on trains. A previous video went viral showing a passenger making tea using an electric kettle in a train charging port. After that video, people once again raised questions about the proper use and safety of railway charging devices.
Most household fans, electric kettles, rods, heaters, and induction cooktops operate on 230 volts of alternating current. Meanwhile, train chargers are primarily designed for charging mobile phones and low-power electronic devices. When such powerful appliances are connected to train sockets, they either do not turn on or function incorrectly.
If a person tries to connect a device to the train charger that consumes more power than its capacity, the circuit protection system may trip or the fuse may blow. This can lead to the temporary shutdown of the corresponding charger, causing inconvenience to other passengers using the same outlet. Therefore, the railway recommends using chargers only for their intended purpose.
Train chargers are usually intended for the following devices: mobile phones, tablets, external batteries (power banks), and laptops (if such an option is available in the carriage). It should be avoided to connect any high-power electrical appliances to the train's charging ports.
