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World’s “Most Fearless Animal,” According to Guinness World Records, Lives in Turkmenistan
One of the planet’s most remarkable creatures — the honey badger — can be found in Turkmenistan. It was recognized by the Guinness World Records (1998–2003 editions) as the most fearless mammal in the world.
Locally known as it-ayi (literally "dog-bear"), the honey badger resembles a small bear, but it belongs to the weasel family. It’s a compact, muscular animal with short, strong legs and powerful claws — well-suited for digging and even climbing trees.
Despite its modest size, the honey badger has earned a reputation for extreme courage and aggressiveness, often confronting animals much larger and more dangerous than itself.
In summer, it is mostly nocturnal, while in other seasons it may be active at dusk — and sometimes even during the day in winter. While searching for food, it can cover up to 10–15 kilometers. Its diet includes rodents, hedgehogs, birds and their eggs, snakes (even venomous ones), amphibians, insects, scorpions, as well as fruits, berries, roots, and tubers. Its love for honey is what gave it the name “honey badger.”
In Turkmenistan, the honey badger is listed in the national Red Book as a rare and endangered species. Hunting is prohibited, and the animal is protected in state nature reserves.
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From Market Stall to Manufacturing Powerhouse: The Success Story of “Ak Gaýa”
The story of Ak Gaýa is a shining example of perseverance, ambition, and the ability to grow with time. What began as a small trading venture at a local market has evolved into one of Turkmenistan’s leading manufacturers of construction materials.
It all started in 1994, when brothers Annamyrat and Shamyrat Apowow registered the private enterprise Ak Gaýa to trade construction mixtures at the Bedew market. At first, they had no shop — all sales were made directly from their vehicle.
Thanks to their determination and hard work, business began to flourish. In 1997, they rented a store space at the same market, and by 2002, having purchased the premises, started importing products directly from Turkey.
By 2005, their retail network expanded to three stores — two at the Altyn Asyr market and one at Bedew.
A new milestone came in 2015, when the brothers decided to launch their own production. The company was re-registered as a Limited Liability Company. It obtained 25 hectares of land in the Balkan region for the construction of a plant producing building mixtures and gypsum boards. The construction was carried out using internal funds by the affiliated company Ak Ýaýla.
At the same time, Ak Gaýa leased 2.12 hectares of land in the industrial zone of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan in Ahal region for stores and warehouses, and 300 hectares in the Bereket farming association for livestock breeding and fodder cultivation.
From 2016, Ak Gaýa expanded its retail operations, offering a wide range of construction and household products. Between 2018 and 2020, the company continued building its production complex, purchased state-of-the-art equipment with the help of local bank financing, and gradually launched production of dry construction mixes and gypsum boards.
In 2018, Ak Gaýa registered its own trademark for plaster and putty — “Ak Alçi”, now recognized as a symbol of reliability and quality.
On December 8, 2020, a grand opening ceremony was held in the Balkan region for Ak Gaýa’s new factory producing gypsum boards and dry mixtures. The plant’s production capacity reaches 4 million square meters of gypsum board and 5,000 tons of dry mixtures per year. Equipped with modern technology from Spain, Turkey, and China, the factory ensures compliance with industrial, environmental, and fire safety standards.
Today, Ak Gaýa LLC is not only a major industrial producer but also operates the largest DIY retail network in Turkmenistan, offering over 11,000 product types across multiple categories.
From humble beginnings at a local market to the establishment of a high-tech manufacturing plant, Ak Gaýa’s journey is an inspiring story of Turkmen entrepreneurship — built on hard work, vision, and self-belief.
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