Tasbaqa: Central Asian Tortoise on the Ustyurt PlateauCEFR A1
31 Aug 2025
Adapted from Vlast.kz, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by GWANGJIN GO, Unsplash
- The Ustyurt Plateau is a clay desert.
- It crosses Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and western Kazakhstan.
- The Central Asian tortoise lives on the plateau.
- People call this tortoise Tasbaqa in Kazakh.
- Humans now are the main threat to tortoises.
- Tortoises are traded, sometimes killed, or trapped.
- Saxon Bosworth made the short film called TASBAQA.
- He first saw the plateau in 2020 in Karakalpak.
- A day in the film stands for months.
- The film wants to raise support for conservation.
Difficult words
- tortoise — A slow-moving land animal with a shell.tortoises
- humans — People, individuals who have human qualities.
- catch — To grab or seize something.
- kill — To cause to die.
- accident — An unexpected event that causes harm.
- plateau — A flat, elevated area of land.
- live — To exist or be alive.lives
- large — Big in size or amount.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think humans harm tortoises?
- What makes Ustyurt a special place for tortoises?
- How can we protect tortoises?
Related articles
Caribbean year of tensions, culture and climate
The Caribbean saw political tensions between the United States and Venezuela, major cultural wins and environmental challenges. Hurricanes and renewable energy plans shaped the year, while sport successes and political debates marked regional headlines.
Climate change and farming in North Kivu
In North Kivu, eastern DRC, changing rainfall and more extreme weather are damaging crops and food supplies. Research and local studies report shorter rainy seasons and heavier rains; experts promote irrigation, better planning and resilient seeds.
Released goldfish harm lakes and ponds
Researchers at the University of Missouri and the University of Toledo used outdoor experiments with artificial lakes to show that released pet goldfish stir sediments, reduce invertebrates, weaken native fish and can trigger hard-to-reverse ecosystem shifts.