Leyla Aliyeva Participates in the Presentation of the Documentary "Azerbaijan. The Rescue of Gazelles"

On March 14, at the Nizami Cinema Center, the IDEA Public Union presented the documentary film "Azerbaijan. The Rescue of Gazelles."

The presentation was attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.

Before the presentation, Leyla Aliyeva viewed an exhibition of photographs taken by the film's director, Igor Bishnyov, during the filming process.

The film was then screened.

The film about gazelles, which are considered the jewel of Azerbaijan's fauna, was shot in the protected nature reserves of Shirvan, Aggol, Absheron, Korçay, and Gobustan. The 40-minute film notes that while gazelles were once abundant in the South Caucasus, their numbers sharply declined in the last century. In a 1961 aerial survey, only 131 gazelles were recorded in the republic. To save this rare species, the Bandovan State Nature Reserve was established in 1961, and the Shirvan State Reserve in 1969, and 20 years later, the number of gazelles in these areas reached 3,000. In 2003, the Shirvan National Park was created in the area. Looking at the results, it can be confidently said that gazelles in the South Caucasus have been saved thanks to the efforts made in Azerbaijan.

The documentary highlights the work done as part of the program "Protection, Reintroduction, and Restoration of Historical Habitats of Gazelles in the Republic of Azerbaijan," launched on December 24, 2010, by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Gazelles were relocated from the Shirvan National Park to the Ajinohur-Saryja and Mil Plains, the Bozdagh Range, and the Gobustan-Cangichay State Nature Reserve. Since its inception, the IDEA Public Union has supported and contributed to the activities for the restoration and protection of gazelles.

After the screening, director Igor Bishnyov expressed gratitude to Leyla Aliyeva, the initiator of the project "Azerbaijan. The Rescue of Gazelles," and shared his impressions of the filming process. He noted that the presentation of the film during the Novruz holiday was not coincidental and congratulated the participants on this occasion. He emphasized that with the arrival of Novruz, nature awakens.

"Today marks the fourth year of our film crew's work in Azerbaijan. We first came here during Novruz in 2013. Over these four years, we have filmed gazelles. Those who follow our work probably know that the basis of our project is the '9 Wonders of Azerbaijan.' However, from the very beginning until now, gazelles have always appeared on camera. This is not by chance, as the gazelle is one of the symbols of Azerbaijan," said Igor Bishnyov.

The director expressed hope that viewers have gained some information from the film: "In the film, we discussed the ecology of this species, the historical attitudes toward it in Azerbaijan, and the importance of gazelles to the Azerbaijani people. First of all, I want to point out that it is thanks to Azerbaijan that the South Caucasus gazelle has been saved. If measures had not been taken, gazelles would have disappeared from these lands. Thanks to the decision of the Azerbaijani leadership and the love of the people for this animal, the South Caucasus gazelle has been preserved over the decades and is no longer in danger. Secondly, the territory is crucial for the protection of gazelles. In this regard, the work carried out in Azerbaijan has no analogs anywhere else, including the former USSR. Here, not only have the nature reserves created in the last century been preserved, but they have also been expanded. All this is done for the benefit of gazelles and the planet as a whole. The third important factor is the program implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Within the framework of this international program, more than 100 animals have been placed in protected areas. Nowhere else in the world do the leaders of a state demonstrate such care for nature. The actions of such individuals serve as an example to others."

The director expressed hope for the continuation of filming as part of the project and concluded by saying: "By protecting gazelles, we are protecting our future."

It should be noted that "Azerbaijan. The Rescue of Gazelles" is the fourth film produced by IDEA under the direction of Igor Bishnyov. The first three films were made as part of IDEA's "9 Wonders of Azerbaijan" project and include the documentaries "Shirvan National Park," "Bird Paradise – Aggol National Park," and "Goygol National Park."

The film "Azerbaijan. The Rescue of Gazelles" will be shown on the initiative of IDEA in the country's higher education institutions, as well as at the union's resource centers in Baku and Ganja. Furthermore, screenings are planned in other countries and at various international events.

The project's aim is to promote the natural beauty of Azerbaijan both domestically and abroad and to draw public attention to the importance of environmental protection.