The project is the red book of the Primorsky Territory. Fauna Interesting cases about animals of the Primorsky Territory

13.06.2019

Primorye has no equal in Russia in terms of richness and diversity of animal and flora. This is due to the favorable geographical position of the region and the absence of continuous cover ice during the era of global glaciation. As a result, on the territory of modern Primorye we can see a unique mixture of cold- and heat-loving species of animals and plants, diametrically different in their geographical origin.

The distribution of wild animals over the territory of Primorye is determined by the climate, terrain, vertical zonality and biodiversity of the plant world. It is thanks to the presence of the mountainous country of Sikhote-Alin, the foothill and flat expanses of the Ussuri taiga, the abundance of rivers and lakes, and the unique sea coast that we observe a special variety of animals in Primorsky Krai.

82 species of mammals live in Primorye, including: tiger, leopard, spotted deer, goral, red deer, musk deer, roe deer, raccoon dog, sable, Ussuri cat, fox, otter, weasel, wolverine, squirrel, chipmunk, hare and many others.

The feathered world of Primorye is exceptionally diverse. 458 species of birds are registered here, many of which are listed in the Red Books of various ranks. For example, of all the rare birds listed in the Red Book of Russia, more than half live in forests, on the sea coast, lakes and rivers of Primorye. According to ornithologists, during the spring-autumn migration period, 2.5-3 million birds stop to rest in Primorye. The largest concentrations of waterfowl are observed in the Khanka lowland, where, for the purpose of their observation and protection, a

The fauna of the Sea of Japan is very rich and diverse. In terms of species diversity of fish, the Sea of Japan has no equal among all the seas of Russia. There are 179 species of commercial fish here alone, including: herring, flounder, pollock, navaga, salmon, greenling, smelt, etc. Of invertebrate animals: crabs, shrimps, mollusks (mussels, scallops, oysters), octopus, trepang, squid, sea urchin, trumpeter, etc. In the lakes and rivers of Primorye, there are up to 100 species of freshwater fish.

A distinctive feature of the richest animal world of the region is the presence of a large number of rare and endemic species that require special protection measures. For this purpose, in the region, those who carry out large and fruitful work on the protection and reproduction of

Rare and endangered species of animals, birds and fish of Primorye:

Tiger Leopard Himalayan bear Spotted deer Goral Moghera Mohera Giant shrew Ussuri clawed newt Far Eastern tortoise Black crane Daurian crane Japanese (Ussuri) crane Middle egret Swan goose Great cormorant Scaled merganser Mandarin duck Fish owl Needle-footed owl White-tailed eagle Golden eagle Paradise fly Yankovsky's oatmeal Reed sutora Black carp Chinese perch (auha)

GOU VPO Pacific State Economic University (UF)

ANIMAL WORLD OF PRIMORSKY REGION

Ussuriysk 2010

Introduction
Species diversity
general characteristics biodiversity
- Birds of Primorsky Krai
  - Bird migrations through the territory of Primorye
- Members of the insectivorous order
- Bats or bats
- rodents
- wild artiodactyl animals
- Representatives of the order of predators
- Study of land mammals

Animal salt licks as a phenomenon and indicator. Adaptations of animals to the conditions of the mountain taiga Sikhote-Alin

Problems of wildlife protection

Conclusion
Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

In Primorye, there are 82 species of land mammals belonging to six orders. A distinctive feature of the richest fauna of the region is the presence of a large number of endemic species, some of which are endangered and listed in the Red Books. various levels, and some are simply rare and require special protection measures.

Animal world Primorsky Krai is distinguished by a unique combination of northern and southern species. The fauna of the cedar-deciduous forests is the richest and most peculiar. Typical mammals that give color to the Ussuri forests are predators: the Amur tiger, the Amur leopard, the Amur forest cat, the Himalayan bear; ungulates: sika deer, red deer. Often there are wolverine, wild boar, lynx, sable, otter, as well as shrews and rodents.

There are 360 species of birds in Primorye. Among them are many endemic species of the Chinese-Himalayan type of fauna or those of a tropical appearance and wintering in the Philippines and the Sunda Islands, in India and Indochina. In the forests of Primorye, insectivores are most common: tropical flycatchers, Chinese oriole, poison dart frogs: woodpeckers and nuthatches; herbivorous: Yankovsky's oatmeal, black-headed grosbeak; chicken: hazel grouse, pheasant. In river valleys and lakes live scaly merganser and colorfully colored mandarin duck. Rare are the Far Eastern stork, spoonbill, sukhonos, white-naped crane.

In the reservoirs of the region there are up to 100 species of fish: crucian carp, Amur pike, skygazer, snakehead, chebak, grayling, redfin, taimen. Pink salmon, chum salmon, and sim go into the rivers from the Sea of Japan to spawn.

SPECIES DIVERSITY

Birds	Insectivores	Bats or bats	rodents	wild artiodactyl animals	Predators
red-bellied woodpecker	Ussuri Mohera	Pipe-noses	long-tailed mouse
Fish owl	Amur hedgehog	brown earflaps		Amur goral
tangerine			Manchurian squirrel	wild sika deer
black crane			Manchurian hare		Wild cat
red-legged ibis			Far Eastern vole		Brown bear
Far Eastern stork			Dahurian hamster		Himalayan bear
crested shelduck
scaly merganser			Little mouse
Japanese crane

GENERAL PROFILE OF BIODIVERSITY

BIRDS OF PRIMORYE

red-bellied woodpecker

Among the birds of the Ussuri Territory there is a mysterious red-bellied woodpecker - the status of which is still not clear, and not only in Russia, but throughout its nesting range, which includes some part (which one - there is no consensus among Chinese ornithologists) of the province Heilongjiang in China.
Of our woodpeckers, it is the only truly migratory one; wintering grounds of D. hyperythrus subrufinus are located in the extreme southeast of China and in Northern Vietnam and are adjacent to the ranges of its three southern subspecies.
Its close relationship with the birds of the tropics is evidenced by bright coloring and some behavior details. The woodpecker has a bright red chest and belly and a white ring around the eye against the background of the red plumage of the sides of the head, otherwise the color of the plumage resembles that of other motley woodpeckers of the genus Dendrocopos. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to photograph birds in nature. These woodpeckers often fly high above the forest canopy and almost always call in flight. The cry of the red-bellied woodpecker is a long modulating trill that intensifies in vibration. The drum roll, on the contrary, is very short, the shortest of all other woodpeckers of the genus Dendrocopos, but quite sonorous and audible from a distance of more than 100 m.
The red-bellied woodpecker was introduced into the fauna of Russia in 1966 by G.Sh.Lafer and Yu.N.Nazarov, when several birds of passage were found on the islands of Peter the Great Bay. In the 70s, meetings of the species in the extreme south of Primorye became regular, but all attempts to find it here for nesting have not yet been successful.
A complete surprise was the discovery of the first nesting site of the red-bellied woodpecker in Russia almost 20 years after the first meeting. In 1985, it was discovered by O.P. Valchuk much to the north, 60 km northeast of Khabarovsk. Since that time, the red-bellied woodpecker has been recorded here almost every year, and the geography of spring meetings of the species in Primorye and in the northeast of Heilongjiang province is also expanding. And, finally, in 1997, A.A. Nazarenko managed to find a new, second in Russia and first in Primorye, nesting place for the species - on the Strelnikov Ridge in the Ussuri River basin.
As in northeastern China, in the Russian Far East, the red-bellied woodpecker lives in secondary mixed-broad-leaved forests of low mountains and foothills with a predominance of oak and a large share of aspen in the forest stand. Probably, the species develops secondary clarified forests not immediately after logging, but when aspen stands reach maturity. It was not discovered on the territory of the Ussuri region until 1966, although many experienced researchers and collectors worked here, starting with N.M. Przhevalsky. Most likely, the red-bellied woodpecker appeared in the Far East of Russia from northeastern China in the 60s, when the existing secondary forests formed everywhere in the border zone in the basins of the Ussuri and Amur rivers. The process of dispersal (or resettlement) of the species apparently continues, because in China, due to the increasing anthropogenic pressure, the area of suitable habitats is steadily decreasing, while in Russia, on the contrary, it is increasing. We believe that the next nesting site for the red-bellied woodpecker in Russia may be the Lesser Khingan Range in the Jewish Autonomous Region, covered with similar forests.
The biology of the red-bellied woodpecker is still poorly understood, but it does not fundamentally differ from the biology of other woodpeckers, with the exception of details determined by the migration of the species.
At the working meeting of the coordinating committee of Bird Life Internetionel on the project of the Red Book of Birds of Asia /Khabarovsk, 1996/ it was decided to include the species in the lists of candidates for inclusion in this book. Currently, it is included in the new edition of the Red Book of Russia as a small, sporadically distributed and poorly studied species /Valchuk, in press/. Perhaps, as a special measure for the protection of the species, it is advisable to create a reserve in the first nesting area. Collection of material on the biology of the species and study state of the art its populations in the south Far East Russia continues.

Fish owl

An even rarer fish owl is found in the Ussuri region. It is also found on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, in Primorye, on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. We can say that this is the most unusual owl of our country. Firstly, the fish owl is a longtime representative of the Red Book. Secondly, unlike other owls, it feeds almost exclusively on fish.

In size, this owl is almost as good as an ordinary owl, its coloration is low-contrast, monotonous, and besides, its toes are bare, without plumage.

The fish owl spends almost all the time on one part of the river floodplain, overgrown with high elms and poplars. Not every place suits him - birds choose rivers rich in fish, as well as those that do not completely freeze in winter or have polynyas. There eagle owls feed in the harsh season. They sit by the open water on the shore and guard their prey. At some polynyas and gullies five or six birds can gather.

In summer, fish owls usually look out for fish from a coastal stone, from a high section of the coast, or from a tree trunk tilted above the water. As soon as the predator notices the fish, it immediately breaks off from the observation post and on the fly grabs the lenok or grayling that has risen to the surface of the water. At night, he wanders along the shallow rifts and snatches the fish swimming by. To keep slippery prey, the eagle owl uses strong paws armed with very sharp hook-shaped claws. The inner surface of the paws is covered with small spines. Sometimes the fish owl changes its hunting grounds, moving from one section of the river to another. I happened to see whole paths that these birds trampled as they wandered along the coast.

The fish owl is notable for its fidelity, which is unusual for trueness - pairs in this species apparently last for several years. In February, when snow is everywhere in Primorye, the mating season begins for owls, and the valley forests resound with the spring cries of these birds. Birds do not interfere with "singing" to each other: their voices sound at strictly defined intervals. Usually the male starts, but after his first syllable, the female, as it were, inserts her "song" into the "song" of the male, and both birds "sing" in a duet. Unlike the common owl, the fish never "laughs". Fish owls often "sing" at the nest, sitting on one bough. Their duet is carried far in the morning or evening dawn - it is heard at a distance of up to one and a half kilometers from the current pair.

At the nest, adult birds often call to each other with a whistle.

Fish owls build nests in hollows at a height of 6 to 18 m. Usually there are two, less often three chicks in the nest. After two months, they leave the hollow, but stay nearby while they learn to fly. However, for a long time, until autumn, adult birds continue to feed the young. It happens that the next year, already almost adult young eagle owls fly to the new nest of their parents and demand food from them with a demanding whistle.

The number of this rare species of owls today is steadily declining. The economic development of floodplain territories, cutting down old hollow trees, accidental death in traps, the development of water tourism, river pollution and the depletion of fish stocks - all this reduces the number of these unusual birds.

mandarin duck
The mandarin duck is the most beautiful duck on earth. Of course, we are talking about the drake. The duck is also elegant and graceful, but painted modestly. It is understandable: she should not attract the attention of predators, since all worries about offspring are on her shoulders.

This is a small duck, also called a Japanese duck and a hollow duck. The average weight of a drake is about 620, and a duck is about 500 grams.

The flight of the mandarin is fast and very maneuverable: from the ground and from the water they rise freely, almost vertically.

Usually a mandarin duck is a very silent duck, it squeaks, whistles, but in the spring, during breeding, it continuously quacks, and its melodious voice differs significantly from the voices of other ducks.

Tangerines arrange nests, usually in hollows. A significant part of the diet is acorns. The nest usually contains 6-7 often 8-10 eggs. The female incubates them for 28-30 days.

A rare species, the number of which tends to decrease. It lives along the Amur, in the Sikhote-Alin mountain system, the Ussuri Valley and Southern Primorye. The species breeds in the south of Sakhalin and on about. Kunashir.

The mandarin winters in Japan and in southern China.
The mandarin duck has no commercial value. In China and Japan, it has been domesticated and bred as an ornamental bird.
The main breeding area of the mandarin duck is located on Japanese islands and on the island of Taiwan.
Tangerines arrive in Primorye early, when there is still snow in places, and the first gullies are just appearing on the rivers. They arrive in pairs and flocks and immediately begin their mating courtship; sometimes up to three males take care of one female. You can’t do without fights, but these fights are more like a ritual of competition.

Tangerines arrive when the Far Eastern frogs begin spring concerts and the period of spawning. Frogs, like acorns, are a favorite delicacy of tangerines. Of course, there are also a lot of "dishes" from plant seeds, fish, salamanders, etc. is included in the diet of these ducks, but the first two are the main ones. To eat acorns, tangerines sit on oaks, collect them on the slopes of hills or in the water.

Tangerines nest in hollows of trees, sometimes at a height of up to 20 meters, and one has to wonder how the chicks, falling from such a height, do not break. And then all sorts of predators appear, crows.

All summer the female tangerine spends on raising offspring. Males, in June, shed their nuptial attire and become almost indistinguishable from females. Tangerines live along deaf taiga rivers, along channels littered with windbreak, oxbow lakes, and therefore they are still preserved in sufficient numbers. And although they are listed in the Red Book of Russia, they are not yet threatened with extinction. It is difficult to imagine the Far Eastern rivers without beautiful mandarins. In America, her close relative lives - the Carolina duck, but in beauty it is noticeably inferior to the mandarin duck, and there are almost no forests there like ours. Both species belong to wood ducks and are found in treeless places only during migration.

In autumn, tangerines fly south late. Some males that linger until November have time to “dress” again in their mating attire...

black crane(lat. Grus monacha) - a bird of the crane family, nesting mainly in the territory Russian Federation. For a long time it was considered an unexplored species, the first nest was discovered by the Russian ornithologist Yu. B. Pukinsky only in 1974. It is listed in the International Red Book as an endangered species. Total population black cranes are estimated by ornithologists at 9400-9600 individuals.

One of the smallest species of cranes, its height is about 100 cm and its weight is 3.75 kg. The plumage of most of the body is bluish-gray. The flight feathers of the first and second orders of the wings, as well as the covert feathers of the tail, are black. The head and most of the neck are white. There are almost no feathers on the crown, with the exception of many black setae; the skin in this place in adult birds is bright red. The beak is greenish, slightly pinkish at the base and yellow-green at the top. Legs blackish-brown. Sexual dimorphism (visible differences between male and female) is not pronounced, although males appear somewhat larger. In young birds in the first year of life, the crown is covered with black and white feathers, and the plumage of the body has a reddish tint.

During the breeding season, the black-crowned crane feeds and nests in hard-to-reach areas of raised sphagnum bogs of the taiga with oppressed woody vegetation, mainly consisting of larch or rare shrubs. Avoids both large open spaces and dense vegetation. In areas of winter migration, it stops near rice or grain fields and in wetlands, where they huddle in large flocks, often together with the Common Cranes and White-naped Cranes.

The diet does not differ from the diet of the common crane and includes both plant and animal food. It feeds on parts of aquatic plants, berries, grains, insects, frogs, salamanders and other small animals. In a Japanese nursery, it is fed with seeds of rice, corn, wheat and other grains.

A pair of black-crowned cranes mark their connection with a joint characteristic singing, which is usually produced with the head thrown back and the beak raised vertically upwards and is a series of complex lingering melodic sounds. In this case, the male always spreads his wings, and the female keeps them folded. The male starts to call first, and the female responds with two calls to each of his calls. The courtship is accompanied by characteristic crane dances, which may include hopping, dashing, flapping wings, tossing tufts of grass, and bending over. Although dancing is most associated with the mating season, ornithologists believe that dancing is a common behavior in cranes and can act as a calming factor for aggression, relieving tension, or enhancing marital bonding.

The place for the nest is chosen in hard-to-reach places in the midst of mossy swamps of the middle and southern taiga with sparse oppressed vegetation. Pieces of wet moss, peat, stems and leaves of sedge, twigs of larch and birch are used as material for the nest. Egg laying occurs in late April-early May, the female usually lays two eggs averaging 9.34x5.84 cm in size and weighing 159.4 g (according to other sources, the egg size is 10.24x6.16 cm). The incubation period is 27-30 days, both parents participate in incubation. The chicks fledge after about 75 days.

CURRENT STATUS OF SOME RED BOOK BIRD SPECIES

red-legged ibis

In the XIX century nested in Primorye (Przhevalsky, 1870). After 1917, it was no longer met for nesting in Russia. N.M. Przhevalsky (1870) counted two or three dozen birds during the spring migration and no more than 20 during the breeding season. Over the past 60 years, single birds have been encountered in Primorye three times (Spangenberg, 1965; Labzyuk, 1981, 1985). In the 80s of the twentieth century. on the territory of Primorye, a special search for the red-legged ibis was undertaken. The questionnaires were prepared by the Wild Bird Society of Japan. Searches did not give positive results. The local population is considered extinct.

Far Eastern stork

A significant part of the population of the species lives in Primorye. The main nesting area is the Ussuri-Khanka lowland. In 1974-75. about 140 pairs nested in Primorye. During these years, one family of storks accounted for an average of 1.6 chicks (Shibaev et al., 1976; Shibaev, 1989). In recent decades, the number of this bird has been declining. Unlike white stork(Ciconia ciconia) Far Eastern stork (Ciconia boyciana) gravitates towards humans to a lesser extent. Although it lives mainly in the anthropogenic landscape, almost no nests are found in settlements.

crested shelduck

A species whose existence was known from old Chinese and Japanese drawings, as well as from several museum specimens. The crested shelduck was thought to have disappeared. However, sightings of birds in 1964 in South Primorye (Labzyuk, 1972) and in 1971 in North Korea (Sok, 1984) allow us to hope that the birds are still preserved in nature. However, a questionnaire survey conducted in the early 1980s in East Asia, including Primorye, did not give positive results (Nowak, 1983).

scaly merganser

More than 90% of the world population of this duck nests (breeds) in the Russian Far East. (Only a very small number also nests in NW China.) In Primorye, the scaly-sided Merganser is found on many mountain rivers in the Sikhote-Alin Range. The state of the population does not inspire much concern.

Japanese crane

The nests of the Japanese crane in Primorye are associated with the Khanka lowland, as well as with the lower reaches of large tributaries of the river. Ussuri. The maximum number of birds was counted in 1980 (116 specimens) and in 1986 (123 specimens). Successfully nesting pairs (families) amounted to 18-19 and 20, respectively. Habitats (nesting biotope) - extensive grass swamps with reeds in combination with lakes and small rivers. Birds from Lake Khanka fly to the Korean Peninsula for the winter. The state of the population is quite stable.

Reed sutor

This bird with an extravagant appearance was discovered in Primorye in the late 60s of the XX century. The main area of its nesting is the Khanka lowland. According to 1977/79 estimates. no more than 400 nesting pairs lived there. Nesting biotope of the reed sutor - thickets of reeds. In the same thickets, birds spend the winter feeding on insects hibernating in reed stalks. This extreme specialization makes the species very vulnerable. Especially dangerous for the species are grass fires that regularly occur in the Khanka lowland. In the Chinese part of the range, commercial cane harvesting is practiced.
The creation in 1990 of the Khankai Reserve somewhat reduced the severity of the threat to the existence of the species. However, it did not completely remove the threat. It is necessary to expand the territory of the reserve and fight fires.
In recent years, the reed sutora has been found in small numbers in other areas of Primorye.

BIRD MIGRATION THROUGH THE TERRITORY OF PRIMORYE

The confinement of the Primorsky Territory to the middle latitudes and to the area of contact between the Asian land and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the fact that the valley of the region's largest river - the river. Ussuri and the territories of the wetlands of the lake. Khanka and the lake plain of the river. Fogs cross the region in the meridional direction, all this leads to the fact that in spring and autumn Primorsky Krai falls into the zone of action of the great "Eastern Trans-Asian migration flow of migratory birds". Tens and hundreds of thousands of birds - waterfowl, shorebirds, ground passerines and others - in spring from their wintering grounds in East and Southeast Asia and Australia on their way to their nesting sites in North and Northeast Asia (and in autumn - in the opposite direction) visit Primorye stopping here for rest and to replenish energy resources. It is noteworthy that from general list In 460 species of birds noted in Primorye, more than 200 species cross the territory of Primorye during their seasonal migrations.
Two main migration flows pass through the territory of the region. One - along sea coast. It is followed by most of the waders, sea gulls, loons and other "sea" birds. The other is confined to the valley of the river. Ussuri and wetlands of the Khanka lowland and the lake plain of the river. Fog. Most of the waterfowl and the vast majority of land birds cross Primorye in this way. In the extreme south of the region, in the Tumangan wetlands, these streams merge.
The first description of the spring passage of birds on the lake. Khanka belongs to N.M. Przhevalsky, who made his observations here in 1868 and 1869. Subsequently, many ornithologists, professionals and amateurs, were engaged in visual observations of the passage of birds in Primorye in different years of the current century. As a result, the timing of passage for most bird species and the estimated number of migrants, primarily waterfowl, are fairly well known by now. Unfortunately, in recent decades, there has been a persistent trend towards a decrease in the number of most waterfowl. Thus, the number of the kloktun population fell catastrophically.
Bird ringing, as a method of studying their migrations, has not become widespread in Primorye. In 1962-1970. on the lake Khanka under the direction of V.M. Polivanov, more than 5.5 thousand chicks of gray and red herons were ringed. Returns of rings, in the amount of 2.6 and 1.5%, respectively, made it possible to determine the areas of flight of young birds (including those far to the north) and to clarify the areas of passage and wintering of these herons. In the same years, in the colonies of seabirds in Peter the Great Bay, under the leadership of N.M. Litvinenko, more than 23,000 chicks of the black-tailed gull were ringed. This made it possible to elucidate the pattern of movement of birds of different ages and in different seasons of the year within the entire Sea of Japan. In incomparably smaller numbers, some other seabirds ringed, including the Japanese cormorant, waders, and some passerine birds.
In the 1980s, within the framework of international cooperation between the International Crane Conservation Foundation (USA), the Wild Bird Society of Japan and the Ornithological Laboratory of the BPI FEB RAS for monitoring the population of the Japanese crane (see below), the nestlings of this crane were marked with colored rings. The project did not bring any scientific surprises.
Since the autumn of 1998, the Amur-Ussuri Center for the Study of Bird Biodiversity has started a long-term bird ringing project in Primorsky Krai. The project is implemented on the initiative and with the financial support of the Department of Social and Environmental Environment of Toyama Prefecture, Japan and with the assistance of the Committee for the Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources of the Primorsky Territory Administration. The main goal of the project is to create a monitoring service for the state of populations of some groups of birds, with an emphasis on passerines by trapping and marking them during migration.

INSECTIVORE

Ussuri Mohera

The Ussuri mohera lives in broad-leaved forests (mainly preferring mountain river valleys) with loose soil. Leads an underground lifestyle. The passages of the Ussuri mohera are usually located at a depth of up to 10 cm, only in areas with dense earth it digs deeper passages with the ejection of earth to the surface and the formation of molehills. It feeds on earthworms, larvae and adult insects.

Live animals emit a characteristic garlic smell. It lives in Primorye and in the south of the Khabarovsk Territory in deciduous and mixed forests. On occasion it catches mice and shrews. It builds passages with a diameter of 7-9 cm at a depth of up to 20 cm. It does not make molehills, but soil ridges above the passages are usually noticeable. The skins are of much higher quality than those of other moles, but due to the limited area of \u200b\u200bdistribution, the moger remains a minor commercial species.

Amur hedgehog

Amur hedgehog(lat. Erinaceus amurensis) - a mammal of the genus forest hedgehogs; the closest relative of the common hedgehog. It is found in northern China, on the Korean Peninsula and in Russia - in the Primorsky Territory, in the south of the Khabarovsk Territory and in the Amur Region (in the floodplains of the Amur and Ussuri rivers).
The Amur hedgehog is very similar to the common hedgehog, but has a lighter color. Up to a third of its needles are devoid of pigment, so the overall tone of the spiny cover is light brown. The fur on the abdomen is brown, hard, bristly. On the back and back of the body needles up to 24 mm long. The length of its body is 18-26 cm, the tail is 16-28 mm. Weight, depending on the season, ranges from 234 to 1092 grams.

The Amur hedgehog inhabits a wide variety of biotopes, avoiding only highlands, vast marshes and large arable areas. Optimal habitats for it are river valleys and lower parts of slopes covered with coniferous-deciduous forest, with rich undergrowth and herbage. Prefers to settle on the border of the forest and open spaces. The day spends in the nest, but on cool rainy days it can hunt around the clock. The basis of his diet is earthworms and other soil invertebrates, less often small terrestrial vertebrates, even more rarely fruits of plants. The breeding season runs from late March to early April. There are 3-8 cubs in a litter. Sexual maturity occurs at 2 years of age.

A common view for the Russian Far East.

BAT, OR BAT

Chiroptera, or bats, are represented in Primorsky Krai by 15 species - of which the long-toed, long-tailed and Ikonnikova * bats, leather-like and eastern bats and eastern leather are very few in number, and there is a clearly pronounced trend towards a further reduction in the number of these species and subspecies. The reason for this is the destruction of animals in natural underground cavities - karst caves and the reduction of places used for brood colonies - buildings of the old building, since the roofs of the houses of new buildings are completely unsuitable for the formations of colonial clusters. The most ancient group of bats, which is currently dying out, are the tube-nosed bats, whose rare finds are scattered over the vast territory of South and Central Asia. Only in the south of Primorye does a representative of this group live - the Ussuri small tube-bearer *. In the south of the Khasansky district, there is the only colony of the long-winged longwing in Russia, which is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Unfortunately, this colony, numbering up to 1000 individuals, was located in fortifications on the border with China and there is evidence that it was destroyed in connection with the recently completed demarcation of the Russian-Chinese border. The most numerous wintering species is the brown earflap*.

RODENTS

Belyak

Large hare: body length of adult animals from 44 to 65 cm, occasionally reaching 74 cm; body weight 1.6-4.5 kg.

The ears are long (7.5-10 cm), but noticeably shorter than those of the hare. The tail is usually all white; relatively short and rounded, 5-10.8 cm long. Paws relatively wide; the feet, including the balls of the fingers, are covered with a thick brush of hair. The load per 1 cm² of the area of the soles of the hare is only 8.5-12 g, which allows it to easily move even on loose snow. (For comparison, in a fox it is 40-43 g, in a wolf - 90-103 g, and in a hound dog - 90-110 g).

There is a pronounced seasonal dimorphism in coloration: in winter, the hare is pure white, with the exception of the black tips of the ears; the color of summer fur in different parts of the range is from reddish-gray to slate-gray with brown striation. The head is usually colored somewhat darker than the back; the sides are lighter. The belly is white. Only in areas where there is no stable snow cover, hares do not turn white for the winter. Females of hare are on average larger than males, they do not differ in color. There are 48 chromosomes in the hare karyotype.

Zokor

The Manchurian zokor (subspecies epsilanus) inhabited most Khanka lowland. However, by the 70s - 80s, it survived only in Primorsky Krai in 3-4 small isolated areas with sparse settlements in the western part of the lowland, in the Ussuriysk, Oktyabrsky, Border and Khanka districts. The range of this species continues to shrink. Outside of Russia, the Manchurian zokor is common in Mongolia (in the east) and in China.

This is a relatively large zokor, the color of the fur can vary from dark gray to light, grayish buff. The upper part of the nose and forehead are lighter and greyer. The chin and circumference of the mouth are whitish. Dark-colored individuals often have a fawn-whitish spot on the back of the head. The tail is almost naked, with very sparse grayish hairs. Body weight can reach 456 g (on average - 297 g), body length is about 209 mm (minimum - 190 mm, maximum - 238 mm), tail - 34-50.5 mm (average - 40.7 mm), feet - 32.7 (30-35.5). The length of the claw on the third finger is 14-18 mm.

The Manchurian zokor leads an underground lifestyle. Each animal digs its own complex two-tier system of passages; the area of the hole can be judged by the volume of earth thrown to the surface in cone-shaped heaps. Feeding passages pass at a depth of 12-20 cm. The diameter of the burrows of underyearlings is 4-5 cm, adults - 8-12 cm. The average diameter of emissions: 20-50 cm, height 10-30 cm. when laying passages, part of the earth is clogged into the old autumn passages. When digging up the roots, the zokor constantly makes new passages in the upper tier, clogs the old ones with earth plugs. The lower tier of the burrow system is located at a depth of 40-110 cm and is connected to the system of feeding passages by several vertical burrows. The length of the passages of the lower tier is limited and undergoes little change. Here are pantries, latrines and a nesting chamber. The length of surface passages reaches 150 m. The Manchurian zokor is active all year round. During the day, peaks of activity are confined to the morning and evening twilight hours. The highest seasonal activity of this species is observed in May-early June and is explained by the resettlement of young animals. By the middle of summer, the intensity of the digging activity of the zokor decreases. In autumn (August-October), there is again a slight increase in burrowing activity, which is associated with the need to create food reserves. In winters with little snow, when the soil freezes, zokor activity is not observed in surface passages.

Manchurian squirrel

The decoration of the forests is the Manchurian squirrel, which is a special large subspecies of the common squirrel. Short black hair, characteristic of squirrels in summer, by October is replaced by winter dark gray. An interesting feature of the ecology of the squirrel is the phenomenon of mass migrations: in years of lack of food, animals begin to undertake grandiose transitions to productive places. At this time, they can be seen in the most inappropriate habitats for them - among fields, mowing, in villages, on rocks moving in a certain direction.

In appearance, it somewhat resembles a flying squirrel, the most characteristic feature of which is a fold of skin covered with hair, stretched in the form of a membrane along the sides of the body between the front and hind legs. This animal rarely jumps through the trees like a squirrel, but more often, having climbed the trunk to the top, it rushes down, spreading its limbs to the side. At the same time, the straightened membrane serves as a kind of glider wings or a parachute for it. During a gliding descent, the flying squirrel can make quick and sharp turns, and in a straight line, descending, fly up to 100 m.

Manchurian hare

The bush hare (Lepus mandshuricus) is a mammal of the hare genus of the order Lagomorpha. Previously, it was often combined with the Japanese bush hare (Lepus brachiurus) or separated into a separate genus, Caprolagus.

Kind of hare. Previously often included in the Japanese bush hare (L. brachiurus) or in the genus Caprolagus. Body weight 1.3-2.3 kg, body length 430-490 mm, tail length GO-95 mm, foot length 110-130 mm, ear length 75-90 mm.

The ears are very short; the tail is relatively long, gray below, black above. The coloration of the back and top of the head is ocher-brown or ocher-gray with dark striation; whitish spots on the sides of the head, a dark stripe under the eye; the sides of the body and paws are fawn, the belly is off-white. There are individuals black with a fawn throat and a white belly or almost white. Winter fur is slightly lighter than summer fur. Like the hare, it is a typical forest dweller, preferring broad-leaved forests with dense shrubby undergrowth. Prefers areas with thickets of hazel and young oak forests, aspen and birch forests. Its most typical biotopes are small overgrown ridges along rivers and springs. It keeps on low watershed areas with rocks and rocky blockages, in floodplains of rivers, on islands overgrown with shrubs. In winter, it prefers the steep southern slopes of the hills, where little snow accumulates. Willingly populates overgrown burnt areas and cutting areas. Coniferous plantations are avoided. He also does not like old, closed plantations and settles only on their outskirts; avoids open spaces. Like all hares, it is active at night. He arranges daytime resting in dense bushes, under fallen trees and creases, stones; sometimes occupies hollows of fallen trees, root voids and old burrows (for example, badgers). Like many hares, it keeps very “strongly” on its bed, letting a person 2-3 m in. In winter, especially with heavy snowfalls, it burrows into the snow. In inclement weather, it does not come to the surface at all, but feeds under the snow, making passages in its thickness. Shelters are used repeatedly. The individual plot of the Manchurian hare, apparently, does not exceed several hundred square meters. Frightened by a man, a Manchurian hare quickly runs away, but only until it is out of sight. Unlike other hares, he does not confuse his tracks at all, does not make estimates, but tries to get away from the pursuit “directly” and hide. It feeds on the aerial parts of various herbaceous, woody and shrubby plants. It is noted that its range coincides with the range of Lespedeza bicolor and does not go beyond the boundaries of its growth. In winter, like a hare, it switches to feeding on young shoots and bark, mainly poplar and aspen. It feeds on berries, fruits, algae.

Dahurian hamster

The Daurian hamster is a small (slightly larger than a mouse) animal with a short tail. Body length 82-126 mm, tail 20-33 mm. The muzzle is noticeably pointed, the ears are relatively large (up to 17 mm), rounded, the foot is bare, the tail is covered with soft short (sometimes longer and coarser) hair, there are no transverse rings on it.

The color of the top is light brown, with ocher and rusty tones; a black stripe runs along the ridge, sometimes strongly blurred, and in the most light-colored races in winter fur it remains only in the form of a darkening in the region of the occiput. The border between the color of the top and sides is even. The soles are relatively densely pubescent. Calluses are not reduced, but in animals with winter fur they are hidden in wool. In the karyotype 2n = 20.

Skull with relatively long and narrow nasal region. The upper line of its profile, like that of the gray hamster, is evenly convex. The nasal processes of the premaxillary bones only barely extend beyond the frontal margins of the nasals. The longitudinal indentation along the midline of the skull is relatively weakly expressed, especially its part that extends over the frontal bones. The length of the interparietal bone more than three times fits in its width. The upper incisors are noticeably weaker than in the previous species; their free sections deviate slightly backward, and the alveolar ones limit only slightly pronounced depressions on the lateral surfaces of the premaxillary bones.

Reliable fossil remains are unknown. Some signs of similarity with specimens of the modern species are found in extinct forms of gray hamsters in the European part of the former USSR. They are even more pronounced in small hamsters from the ancient Pleistocene of Transbaikalia, the Late Pleistocene-Holocene of Primorye, and also of the South. China (Chowkoudian) The first are brought together with C. barabensis, the second - with C. griseus Milne-Edw.

Mouse baby

The smallest of the rodents and one of the smallest mammals on Earth (only the shrew is smaller than it - tiny shrew). Body length 5.5-7 cm, tail - up to 6.5 cm; weighs 7-10 g. The tail is very mobile, grasping, able to twist around stems and thin branches; hind legs are prehensile. The coloration is noticeably brighter than that of the house mouse. The coloration of the back is monophonic, brownish-buff or reddish, sharply demarcated from the white or light gray abdomen. Unlike other mice, the muzzle of the baby mouse is blunt, shortened, and the ears are small. The northern and western subspecies are darker and redder.

The baby mouse inhabits southern part forest and forest-steppe zone, penetrating along the river valleys almost to the Arctic Circle. In the mountains it rises up to 2200 m above sea level ( central part Greater Caucasus Range). Prefers open and semi-open habitats with high herbage. It is most numerous in tall grass meadows, including floodplain ones, in subalpine and alpine meadows, on bogs, among rare shrub thickets, weeds on wastelands, on fallow lands, hayfields and borders. In Italy and East Asia it is found in rice fields.

Activity round the clock, intermittent with alternating periods of feeding and sleep. The baby mouse is sensitive to overheating and avoids direct sunlight. A characteristic behavioral feature of the baby mouse is movement along the stems of plants in search of food, as well as the location of the summer nest. The mouse builds on herbaceous plants (sedge, reed) and low shrubs round nests with a diameter of 6-13 cm. The nest is located at a height of 40-100 cm. It is intended for breeding offspring and consists of two layers. The outer layer consists of the leaves of the same plant to which the nest is attached; internal - from a softer material. Ordinary residential nests are simpler. In autumn and winter, baby mice often move into simple holes, into haystacks and stacks, sometimes into human buildings; laying snow trenches. However, unlike other mice, baby mice do not reproduce under such conditions, bringing offspring only in summer in above-ground nests. They do not hibernate.

Baby mice are poorly social, meeting in pairs only during the breeding season or in large groups (up to 5,000 individuals) in winter, when rodents accumulate in haystacks and granaries. With the onset of heat, adults become aggressive towards each other; males in captivity fight fiercely.

WILD PANTHOFUL ANIMALS

red deer

Dimensions of males length 220-255 cm; height at the shoulders 146-165; head length 52.5-56. Total weight- 170-250 kg. Sizes of females (cm): 185-216; 120-135; 34-48: weight 140-180 kg.

An adult red deer has 10-12 on both horns, less often 14 and, as an exception, 16 processes.

The length of the red deer horns is 87 cm, the span is 82 cm, the length of the largest processes is 32.5 cm and the circumference of the base of the horn is 20

The summer fur of the red deer consists of short, tight-lying hair with a thin base, about 15 mm long, with a light yellowish bottom and red top. The undercoat is missing. The general type of skin is bright reddish or yellowish-reddish, a dark stripe 3-4 cm wide runs along the ridge in the neck and shoulders, the mirror does not stand out from the color of the back, also a reddish-reddish tone, but is delimited from below by a black stripe. The head is covered with very short grayish hair, the legs are brownish. The skin that wears the antlers is covered with velvety brown or grayish wool.

Winter fur. The space from the end of the nose to the ears and the base of the horns is deep brown, with some lightening around the eyes, and the hair that dresses it is dense and short, their length is 4-5 mm. The neck is covered with long, up to 60 mm, gray-brown hair, forming a kind of mane in winter and still darkening. The back and sides are dressed with very short (5 mm) light gray fur with a sandy tint in the shoulder area on the ridge and with a brownish coating in the back of the back, formed by dark hair ends. The speculum is yellow-red in color, sharply delimited from the sides by a black stripe 3.5 cm wide.

Juveniles are distinguished by a reddish coloration of a shorter and sparse mane in the area between the ears. The juvenile coloration of the young, like that of all deer of the genus Cervus, is red with several rows of white spots.

The tail vertebrae of the red deer are covered with a thin layer of tendons and muscles, dressed in a glandular dark brown tissue of a granular structure, weighing about 300 g. This gland consists of two lobes lying on the sides of the tail and connected together from above and below, also entering the base of the tail. Together with this gland and the skin that covers it, the tail looks like a fleshy, bluntly rounded ending cylinder (5-6 cm in diameter and 15 cm long) slightly thinning towards the end. The red deer, like all other representatives of the genus Cervus, has lacrimal pits that secrete a resinous yellowish "sulfur". On the metatarsus of the red deer, on the outer side, in the upper third, there is an oval area with thickened skin and bristly, reddish-yellow hair, several times longer than the dark brown hair surrounding them.

The red deer's hoof is short and wide. Its dimensions in a bull are as follows: the front leg is 11 cm long, compressed width 9 cm, height along the front edge 7 cm; hind leg—length 11 cm, width 8.3 cm, height 7.5 cm. In the female it is relatively more elongated. As with all artiodactyls, each half of the hoof is slightly asymmetrical, with the inner half narrower. AT summer time the hoof is dense with a rounded, evenly worn edge, which does not protrude beyond the sole (which is observed in the elk, which lives more on soft moss cover), but forms one plane with the latter. The angle formed by the connection of the hoof with the pastern, and the angles formed by the joints of the individual parts of the limbs, are close to 180°. The hoof is very strong, relatively bluntly ending, and the structure of the limbs as a whole corresponds to the load placed on them by the weight of a heavy animal, and the manner of its movement.

Red deer live in the mountains on steep, often rocky slopes; in the valleys, extensive areas of pebbles along the banks of the rivers are also common, that is, there is almost always a solid substrate under the feet of the red deer. Normally, animals move at a walk, not avoiding the steepest and stony places, and even walk along placers, and in case of alarm they move strong. high jumps, vigorously pushing off the ground. Red deer run a little at a trot and move from jumping to a walk. The nature of the movement in bulls and females is slightly different. Females mostly gallop, bending their spine more strongly and vigorously, while bulls trot more often.

Amur goral

One of the rarest ungulates in Russia - goral - is found in the Sikhote-Alin mountains. This species is endangered and has survived only in the most inaccessible parts of the ridge. Favorite habitats are steep rocky cliffs descending directly to the sea. Goral jumps with amazing ease along steep steeps, making swift jerks and jumping up to two meters. Gorals are not adapted to a long run and try not to move away from the saving rocks. Currently, the total number of these animals is estimated at 500-700 individuals, of which only 200 gorals live outside the protected areas. Hunting and trapping of the goral has been prohibited since 1924, the species is listed in the Red Books of the IUCN and Russia.

Ussuri sika deer

An endemic species of ungulates, listed in the Red Book of Russia, is the Ussuri spotted deer. The summer coloring of these animals is very beautiful - numerous white spots are scattered over a bright orange background. No wonder the Chinese call this deer “hua-lu”, which means “deer-flower”. It is believed that in Primorye there are two ecological forms of this narrow-range subspecies - wild and park. Exactly wild populations deer are protected by law. At present, aboriginal populations have survived only in the Lazovsky and Olginsky districts, mainly in the Lazovsky Reserve and the territory adjacent to it. Deer, unlike bovids (bulls, goats and rams), change their antlers every year. In the first stages of growth, deer antlers are soft, covered with delicate skin with hair; only by autumn do they become hard and ossify. Horns before ossification are called antlers and are widely used for cooking medicinal product pantocrine. It was this fact that served as one of the reasons for the extermination of spotted deer at the beginning of the century.

musk deer

Original little deer musk deer weighs only up to 10 kg. Unlike other sika deer and red deer, male musk deer are hornless, but they have sharp fangs 6-8 cm long in the upper jaw. The hind legs of the musk deer are much longer than the front ones, which allows it to easily jump up to 7 m. With a calm step, it walks “hunched over”, and if necessary to get its usual winter food (lichens) from the trees, it stands on its hind legs, resting its front legs against the trunk. In males, a peculiar gland is located on the belly, the so-called “musk jet”, which is a bag the size of a chicken egg, filled with a musk-like brown mass with the smell of sulfuric ether - musk, which is widely used, for example, in perfumery production to fix perfume smells.

Boar

Speaking about the ungulates of Primorye, one cannot fail to mention the Ussuri subspecies of the wild boar, which differs well from the other four subspecies in its large body size. Outwardly, the wild boar bears little resemblance to the domestic pig. This is a massive animal on strong legs, with a strongly developed front girdle, a very thick and short neck and a powerful head, which makes up about a third of the entire body length. There are still old male billhooks weighing up to 300 kg, although the average weight of wild boars, taking into account young ones, is much less, about 70 kg. From the end of November, the rut begins in wild boars, accompanied by fierce fights among males. And young piglets are born at the end of March - April, when there is still snow. The piglets, having left the specially constructed “gaino” nest, already from the fifth day on their own look for food under the protection of their mother, who continues to walk with them until the spring of next year.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ORDER OF PREDATORS

Amur tiger

A rare subspecies of the tiger lives in Primorye, the number of which has stabilized at a low level. Over the past century, the population of the Amur tiger has experienced profound and dramatic changes: from a relatively high population at the beginning of the century to a deep decline in the late 1930s and early 1940s, when about 20-30 animals remained in the entire range within the country, then gradual increase until 1990, when the number of tigers may have reached the level of 300 - 350 individuals. The main factor that brought the tiger to the brink of extinction was its direct persecution by humans, and the introduction in Russia since 1947 of legislative protection of the tiger became a turning point in its fate. Although there is no immediate threat of extinction for this subspecies, its future continues to be of great concern. In most regions of the region, there is a clear imbalance in the population density of the main species of potential prey of the predator and the predator itself. The most important negative factor was the intensified poaching, which has acquired since the beginning of the 90s. commercial nature (skins, bones and other parts of dead tigers are sold in most countries of East Asia as valuable medicinal raw materials). At present, a detailed “Strategy for the Conservation of the Amur Tiger in Russia” has been adopted and comprehensive efforts are being made to normalize the situation with this rare and wonderful predator.

Far Eastern leopard

Another endangered predator is the Far Eastern, or Amur, leopard*, which is the northernmost of all leopard subspecies. Its population is considered genetically isolated and requires measures to be taken to preserve it as a genetically unique component in the system. species diversity both the region and the world as a whole. Currently, there are no more than 50 leopards in the region, and scientists are making every effort to save this animal from extinction. The weight of the leopard does not exceed 80 kg. His winter fur is thick, with bright colors: black or black-brown solid or rosette spots are scattered over an ocher-red background. The leopard walks and jumps completely without noise, and the bright colors perfectly mask it in any season, so it is very rare to see this slender cat with soft smooth movements.

Red Wolf

It's pretty large animal with a body length of 76-110 cm, tail - 45-50 cm and a weight of 17-21 kg. His appearance combines the features of a wolf, a fox and a jackal. The red wolf differs from the ordinary wolf in color, fluffy hair and a longer tail, almost reaching the ground. Characterized by a short, pointed muzzle. The ears are large, erect, with rounded tops, set high on the head.

The general tone of color is red, highly variable in individual individuals and in different parts of the range. The end of the tail is black. Wolf cubs up to 3 months - dark brown. The hairline in winter is very high, thick and soft; in summer noticeably shorter, rougher and darker. The tail is fluffy, like a fox. Based on the variability of color, fur density and body size, 10 subspecies of the red wolf are described, 2 of them are found on the territory of Russia.

The red wolf differs from other representatives of the canine family in a reduced number of molars (there are 2 in each half of the jaw) and a large number of nipples (6-7 pairs).

The red wolf is a typical inhabitant of the mountains, rising up to 4000 m above sea level. For most of the year, it lives in the subalpine and alpine belts, in the south of its range - in low- and mid-mountain tropical forests, and in the northeastern regions - in mountain taiga, but everywhere its stay is confined to rocky places and gorges. It does not settle on open plains, but in search of food it makes long seasonal migrations, sometimes appearing in unusual landscapes - forest-steppe, steppe, and even in deserts. With the establishment of a high snow cover in the mountains, the predator, following wild artiodactyls - argali, mountain goats, roe deer and marals - descends to the foothills or moves to the southern sunny slopes and other areas with little snow. Rarely attacks pets. In summer, he regularly eats plant foods.

The red wolf lives and hunts in packs of 5-12 individuals (sometimes more), apparently uniting animals of several generations. Relations within the pack are usually non-aggressive. It hunts mainly during the day, chasing prey for a long time. Prey ranges from rodents and lizards to deer (sambar, axis) and antelope (nilgai, blackbuck). A large pack can cope with a gaur bull, a leopard and a tiger. Unlike many canines, red wolves kill game by attacking from behind rather than by the throat. Two or three red wolves can kill a 50 kg deer in less than 2 minutes.

Shelters for red wolves are usually rock crevices, caves and niches in the slopes; they don't burrow. They have a developed ear, swim well and jump well - they are able to overcome a distance of up to 6 m in length. Red wolves avoid people; in captivity they breed, but are not tamed.

Amur wild forest cat

Common, but not numerous in the forests of Primorye, wild forest cat, the smallest representative of the feline in the Far East.

The beast weighs 4-6 kilograms, and especially large individuals - males grown fat in autumn - up to 8-10 kilograms. The length of their strong flexible body is from 60 to 85 centimeters, for the "record holders" - up to a meter.

The dense reddish-yellow winter coat is covered with many dark rusty spots, merging into stripes in places.

Two white arrows stand out on the forehead, vague rings are noticeable on the tail, the abdomen is off-white with a yellowish tint. Unlike domestic cats, wild forest cats from time immemorial wear "fur coats" of the same color, the same pattern, the same density.

Like all members of the cat family, wild cat sharp teeth and claws, keen hearing and excellent eyesight. He's a great tree climber.

Enough long legs allow him to make big jumps and swift throws, from which not only a mouse or a hare, but also a bird rarely dodges.

The force is enough to lift a young roe deer. But he is not capable of a long chase: there is no wolf or harzine endurance.

However, like all cats, a wild cat is lazy and prefers rest to everything. He walks only when necessary, slowly, carefully, usually not on the ground, but on deadwood and trees.

The forest cat leads a twilight-night lifestyle, although sometimes it stays awake during the day - in case of extreme need. He usually arranges a nest in hollows of standing and fallen trees, in small caves or among stones, covered from rain and winds, occasionally in dry burrows between tree roots and under deadwood. During the day he sleeps with pleasure, goes hunting at sunset.

The cat's gastronomic preferences are mice, voles, chipmunks, Manchurian hare, squirrels, birds no larger than pheasants and ducks. Sometimes it attacks the column and mink, which it easily copes with, and even roe deer, even piglets. Unlike domestic cats, it is not afraid of water, swims well, recklessly catches fish, frogs and other aquatic animals, on occasion it will not fail to catch gaping sandpipers or muskrats.

In summer and early autumn, when food is plentiful, the cat gets very fat, but in winter, especially when deep snow falls, it is difficult for him: he does not know how to catch mice and voles like foxes under the snow, chipmunks and frogs sleep, but he does not know how to catch a hare or a bird , deeply falling into the snow, it is not easy to catch.

The forest cat is a close relative of the common domestic cat, they even produce common offspring. Beautiful and slender, children are more like wild parents both in appearance and in disposition. But what is strange: being relatives of our cute and obedient murks and vaskas, forest cats are very difficult to tame and train.

Only when caught by very small blind kittens and raised in tireless care and affection, they become completely tame, friendly and do not seek to demonstrate the strength of their claws and teeth in any case. At the first opportunity, these freedom-loving animals run away into the forest, but soon return to the person who raised them.

Some fifty years ago, the northern border of the range of the Amur forest cat passed along the left bank of the Amur region - through the middle parts of Zeya, Bureya, Urmi and Kura, down the Amur, going beyond Komsomolsk. Now it has shifted far to the south, covering only the southern part of Primorsky Krai.

In the 1930s, when harvesting of this animal's skins reached 2,000 pieces, its livestock apparently numbered 8-10 thousand individuals, of which about 80% lived in Primorye. By the beginning of the 70s, the former cat population had decreased to 2 thousand, and all of them were concentrated in the Primorsky Territory, and now there are 2 times less of them - no more than 1 thousand for the entire region.

Brown bear

The brown bear, the largest bear in Europe and Asia, is widely distributed throughout the Ussuri region, although the main part of the species habitat is confined to the central part of Sikhote-Alin. Most of the time this animal spends in search of food, feeding mainly on plant foods. As is known, brown bears hibernate, using dens for wintering, located under the eversion of a tree or in a windbreak in coniferous forests, mainly in deaf, deep-snow areas of the mountains. Insufficiently well-fed for normal winter sleep, bears do not hibernate. These are the so-called “rods”, which have a habit of wandering around the taiga all winter in search of any food, up to the remnants of wolf “meals”. They attack ungulates and are dangerous for humans when they meet.

Himalayan bear

The Himalayan bear, which is popularly called either white-breasted or black, is distributed only in the southern part of the Far East, living in deciduous forests. They are markedly different from brown bears. Their fur is silky, black with a white spot on the chest in the form of a flying bird. Large males of 200 kg are rare, and females usually weigh no more than 100 kg. Himalayan bears spend about 15% of their lives among the crowns of trees, eating berries, acorns and nuts. For the winter, they lay down in mid-November, before the snow. Lairs are arranged in hollows of soft tree species - poplar or linden. In the same place, females in February will give birth to two, less often three blind cubs, only 500 grams in weight. The species is included in the Red Book of Russia. However, at present, the process of reducing the number of this species has been stopped and the number of bears in Primorye has increased markedly.

STUDY OF TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS

Http://www.fegi.ru/primorye/animals/5.htmThe study of terrestrial mammals in Primorsky Krai and the entire Far East of Russia is carried out by employees of the Laboratory of Theriology of the Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Theriology Laboratory was organized in 1989 on the basis of the former Laboratory of Vertebrate Zoology, which existed since the establishment of the Soil Biology Institute in 1962.
Currently, the laboratory staff is working on the topic “Birds and Mammals of the Russian Far East: Fauna, Population Monitoring, Conservation Problems” with two main sections: “Organization and Functioning of Mammal Communities in the Russian Far East” and “Ecology and Spatial Structure of Mammal Populations”. The most important areas of research are:

study of taxonomy, biology, ecology, zonal and regional regularities in the structure of the population of mammals in the Far East in natural and anthropogenic landscapes in order to develop ecological fundamentals and establishing effective means of managing their populations;
monitoring of populations and development of ecological bases for the protection of the gene pool of rare mammals, rational use and expanded reproduction of economically valuable species;
elucidation of the ways of formation, formation and patterns of functioning of modern communities of mammals in the Far East.

ANIMAL SALONTZES AS A PHENOMENON AND INDICATOR

ADAPTATION OF ANIMALS TO THE CONDITIONS OF MOUNTAIN-TAiga SIKHOTE-ALIN

In the mid-mountain spruce-fir and larch taiga in Sikhote-Alin, areas with a high seasonal density of animals are everywhere distinguished, which are mosaically distributed among vast expanses of relatively empty taiga. The emergence of relatively densely populated oases among wild animals among vast expanses of almost uninhabited taiga in most mid- and high-mountain ecosystems is due to various factors. Previously, it was believed that the main environmental structuring factors are three: 1 - forage (availability of sufficient stocks of summer and winter food); 2 - snowy (lack of long periods of deep snow) and 3 - protective (the presence of certain forms of relief and vegetation). The complex of studies we have carried out allows us to speak about the existence of another determining factor influencing the spatial distribution of animals, which is proposed to be called geoadaptive. The fact is that most (perhaps all) herbivorous animals have an evolutionarily determined mechanism for expanding their adaptive capabilities through the nutritional use of certain minerals. Their absence in one or another natural environment can narrow the adaptive opportunities for animals to live.
An indicator of the manifestation of the geo-adaptation factor is lithophagy (from the Greek: "lithos" - a stone and "phagos" - to eat). This term is directly related to the term “geophagy”, which has long existed in the English-language scientific literature, denoting the eating of earthy substances by people and animals. Geophagy in humans has been studied for about 200 years. The largest reports on geophagy of a descriptive nature are the works of the famous American ethnographer B. Laufer (Laufer, 1930), as well as the Swedish authors B. Anell and S. Lagercrantz (Anell, Lagercrantz, 1958). Geophagy in relation to animals in the English-speaking scientific environment is used mainly in relation to primates, although the facts of eating earthy substances have been noted by many zoologists in relation to various animals and in almost all corners of the world. The facts of the use of earthy substances by large herbivorous animals as food are most often associated by zoologists with the need of animals for sodium due to the low content of this element in feed and water, which is typical for some ecosystems. In some cases, this explanation is supported by geochemical data showing an increased sodium content in the ingested minerals, but this is far from always the case. Geophagy among humans and primates (which is very common in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Earth) is usually explained by the desire for the treatment of digestive disorders of the diarrheal type. In recent years, articles devoted to the study of the mineral composition of "edible lands" have increasingly noted their similarity to mineral substances used for similar purposes in medicine. The most famous in this regard are the French drug Smecta, which is essentially a clay mineral smectite, as well as the pharmaceutical agent Koapectate (TM) widely used in Africa, a mixture of kaolinite and smectite.
Places where marked characteristics the constant appearance of wild animals for the purpose of using earthy substances as food, in the Russian-language scientific literature it is customary to call "animal salt licks". The English synonym is mineral lick. In the Turkic-speaking environment, such places are called Kudyurs. In addition to solid mineral substances on animal salt licks, animals often drink mineralized spring water. This fact, in our opinion, is related exclusively to sodium supplementation.
Lithophagy in animals and humans, according to our ideas, has the same cause in all geographical points of the Earth. The phenomenon is based on the organism's instinctive desire for a versatile adjustment of its functional systems, which periodically undergo mismatch under the influence of various adverse environmental factors (climatic, geochemical, high natural background of radioactivity, etc.). The possibility of such a correction is due to the fact that many supergene (created in the process of weathering) minerals have similar properties in terms of regulation of many physiological, bioenergetic and informational processes in living organisms. In the vast literature on the biological action of natural zeolites, smectites, opalites and a number of other minerals formed under surface conditions under the influence of solar-cosmic radiation and other agents of physical and biological weathering, numerous evidence has already been accumulated that when eating such minerals, stress resistance increases, immunity to diseases; there is a beneficial effect on the symbiotic microflora in the digestive tract. In addition, such minerals are able to act as a strong healing factor of local importance, for example, in the healing of wounds, ulcers, bone fractures, etc. Such minerals strongly affect the general and, especially, mineral metabolism in the body; increase the digestibility of food. We believe that the biologically active effect of hypergene minerals is determined by their evolutionarily fixed fundamental role, which they played at the stage of the emergence of the first forms of life on Earth. Some varieties of high-silica zeolites, smectites, minerals of the kaolinite group, chlorites, some hydromicas, vermiculites, as well as some structural varieties of silicon oxides should be attributed to the number of minerals that have the ability to increase the adaptive capabilities of organisms. The main active factor in such minerals, in our opinion, is a special low-temperature variety of silicon oxide, which is present in varying amounts in all of the listed minerals. The second most important factor is microelements, the third one is sorption, ion-exchange and biocatalytic properties.
It should be noted that the accidental eating of any natural minerals along with the main food is typical for almost all animals without exception. Instinctive eating of only some minerals (which is, in fact, lithophagy) is most characteristic of herbivorous animals. Although we know cases of active lithophagy in predators, for example, in Kamchatka bears. In different physiological groups of animals, lithophagy is expressed differently. For example, in birds, as well as in fish and a number of marine animals, lithophagy manifests itself in the form of purposeful ingestion of sand, pebbles or pebbles. Terrestrial mammals, especially ruminants (the same is characteristic of primates, and, apparently, in the recent past for all people), prefer clay-like substances. Lithophagy, as already noted, can acquire traditional forms with visits to the same places. Most often, this is due to the uneven distribution of adaptogen minerals in the landscape.
In ruminants, due to their physiologically determined addiction to sodium salts, there can be two incentives for lithophagy. Along with the main, instinctive desire for minerals-adaptogens, they may manifest an instinctive reflex desire for the use of sodium-rich minerals. At the same time, sodium in these cases, as is clear from our observations, is most often a paragenic element (born together with adaptogen minerals).
Usually lithophagy is seasonal. The amount of minerals eaten once is most often measured in units of percent of the body weight. For example, deer weighing about 100 kg can eat from 1 to 5 kg of clay at a time. In lithophage people, the dose can be from tens of grams to a kilogram of clay-like substances.
The places of origin of traditional places of lithophagy in animals (be it permanent places for birds to search for “pebbles”, places of geophagy for primates, places for the extraction of “edible lands” for people, as well as animal salts for herbivorous ungulates) are always determined geologically, geomorphologically and biologically. The latter factor is most often represented by the general long stay of minerals in the zone of life of plants and soil microorganisms, but sometimes termites or other herbivorous lithophagous insects accelerate their “maturation”. Large animal salt licks, which are of particular interest to animals, arise with a relatively rare combination of tectonic, lithological, and geochemical factors, and therefore remain unchanged for many millennia. That is why the largest animal salt licks are the most important and ancient places of concentration of wild ungulates and, accordingly, predators. (Ancient people in this sense differed little from animals, as evidenced by the finds of "edible lands" in the oldest human burials in Africa, as well as the frequent confinement of large ancient human settlements to the outcrops of such rocks. A prime example confirming this idea for the Sikhote-Alin is a well-known multi-layered monument of the Paleolithic era near the village of Ustinovka, located next to a large deposit of smectites and zeolites).
For herbivorous birds, the search for the necessary minerals in the form of silicon-containing sand and gravel, derivatives of a wide variety of rocks, on the territory of Sikhote-Alin is not associated with any difficulties. Rocks of this type are common here almost everywhere. Very rarely there are large areas of swampy spaces where there are no "pebbles" not only at the edge of streams, but also in the roots of fallen trees, which can create geo-adaptation problems for sedentary herbivorous birds, for example, the chicken family. Problems of this kind are typical almost exclusively for the platform regions of the globe in the conditions of vast wetlands, such as are known, for example, in Western Siberia. In these cases, animals may show abnormal physiological shifts in the development and spatial organization of populations, which are seen, for example, in capercaillie (Telepnev, 1988).
For large herbivorous animals in Sikhote-Alin, problems of geo-adaptation exist and are strongly pronounced in places, as evidenced by the uneven population of mountain taiga territories and the confinement to them of relatively numerous animal salt licks.
Depending on the general and specific geological situation, adaptogenic minerals on animal solonetzes can have different mineral and geochemical composition and genesis. For example, within the coastal volcanic belt, where mainly volcanic rocks of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic age are distributed, most animal solonetzes are confined to outcrops of volcanic rocks of medium and acidic composition, initially enriched in water-saturated glasses, which later, under the action of hot waters, at the stage of cooling of magmatic foci, zeolites and smectites were formed. As a rule, tuffs and glasses of the Kuznetsovsky and Bogopolsky volcanic complexes, which are still attributed to the Paleogene-Neogene period, undergo such transformations. geological history. Such clayey-zeolite rocks emerging on the surface are almost always accompanied by a manifestation of interest in them by large mammals. Animal salt licks, confined to paleovolcanic centers, can be extremely picturesque and always make a great impression when meeting with them. (In the equatorial zone, especially in places of large concentrations of such large animals as elephants, such salt licks are especially picturesque. Their descriptions are sometimes found on the pages of popular geographical literature). Their geomorphological confinement is the sides of streams, mountain slopes and watershed spaces. In Sikhote-Alin, such animal salt licks are known in the upper reaches of the rivers: Samarga, Kuznetsova, Sobolevka, Maksimovka, Tayozhnaya; along the tributaries of the Bikin and Ussurka. There are also in the southern Sikhote-Alin. Some of them, for example, those located on the territory of the Sikhotealinsky Biosphere Reserve, have been studied for a long time (Kaplanov, 1949). Most of them have been described in detail and studied only recently (Panichev, 1987). Salt licks of this type are actively visited by elk, red deer, roe deer, and hare. The period of their most active visiting by animals is spring - early summer and autumn.
Another variety of animal solonetzes in Sikhote-Alin is associated with outcrops of mineralized spring waters formed in the rock mass under the action of carbon dioxide. The origin of carbon dioxide in these cases can only be hypothesized. Judging by the specific isotopic composition, it is most likely associated with the decomposition of carbonates in the near-contact parts of cooling magma chambers to carbon dioxide, followed by saturation of cold waters of artesian basins or waters circulating along tectonic faults with this gas. Weakly acidic carbonic waters dissolve rocks along the way, being saturated with various salts. In places where they come to the surface, such waters quickly clay the rocks, forming thin linear weathering crusts. If animals find such places, then over time, they become manifest in traces in the form of a characteristic network of approach paths; as well as areas of rocks freed from vegetation with signs of their eating and licking. The animal salt licks formed in this way can be quite extensive in area. Their geomorphological confinement is floodplains and terraces of rivers and streams, less often saddles of watersheds. Animal solonetzes of this type have a clear structural relation to fault tectonics and are widespread both in volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The largest of them are known among sedimentary rocks within the 20-30 km zone in the marginal part of the field of Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic rocks. Many of them are described in the upper reaches of the rivers, along the tributaries of the Bikin and Ussurka (Kaplanov, 1949; Liverovsky, 1959; Panichev, 1987).
The frequency of visits to "carbon dioxide-clay" solonetzes is close to the previous "clay-zeolite" type.
Finally, the third variety of animal salt licks in the Sikhote-Alin, identified by L.B. Kaplanov (1949), is the so-called “marsh” solonetzes. They arise in floodplains, less often on floodplain river terraces, usually in the coastal part of oxbow lakes, drainless swampy lakes; sometimes within the swampy areas of mountain plateaus; they are very characteristic of the marshy coastal plain. Their formation is associated with the unloading of the same weakly mineralized carbonic waters, both of deep tectonic and artesian formation, in the swamping area. Such salt licks are widely found in the central and northern Sikhote-Alin. They are visited mainly by moose, especially in the summer-autumn period.
Animal solonetzes in Sikhote-Alin, as centers of seasonal concentration of animals, are extremely important components of mountain taiga ecosystems. A detailed study of the spatial patterns of their formation indicates that they all form regular groupings, mostly associated with relatively young paleovolcanic centers of different levels of the exogenous section. The relative saturation of the mountain-taiga territory of the Sikhote-Alin with animal solonetzes, "tied" to certain lithotectonic systems, undoubtedly, was one of the factors that predetermined the focal nature of the distribution of wild animals, as well as the specific nature of their relationship with the habitat.
Violation of these well-established, millennium-old connections between wild animals and their habitat in the middle mountains in Sikhote-Alin can lead to even more devastating consequences than those that we observe today in the low mountains zone, where

more productive forests grow, relatively evenly populated by wild animals.

PROBLEMS OF WILDLIFE PROTECTION

Currently, there are six state nature reserves in the Primorsky Territory: Sikhote-Alinsky, Lazovsky, Ussuriysky, Khankaysky, the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve, and the Far Eastern State Marine Reserve. Their total area is 4% of the territory of the region.
Reserves are reserves rare species animals such as the Amur tiger, white-breasted bear, goral, spotted deer. Among the priorities in the field of protection of rare animal species in Russia, one of the first places - along with the Amur tiger - is occupied by the Far Eastern leopard, which is one of the most beautiful and rarest forms of cats in the world fauna. In terms of numbers, it is inferior to the tiger by 10-15 times, and in terms of area of the range - by many tens of times. Over the past 20 years, the range of the leopard within our country has almost halved.
In the flora of Primorsky Krai, the following tree species are distinguished: spruce - 22%, cedar - 18.9%, fir - 3.7%, larch - 10.8%, oak - 17.5%, stone birch - 6.1%, white birch - 9.9%, ash - 2.7%, linden - 3.6%, elm - 1%, aspen - 2%, other species - less than 1.3%. Of the species of the Manchurian flora, there are such rare ones as the spiky yew, Sikhotinsky and Fori rhododendrons. They are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

Structural and legislative provision of environmental activities is constantly changing both in form and in essence. Three major milestones in the transformation of nature management show how much these structures have changed. The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated July 30, 2004 No. 400 “On Approval of the Regulations on the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Natural Resources and Amendments to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated July 22, 2004 No. 370” (Collection of Legislation of the Russian Federation, 2004, No. 32, Art. 3347), as it was followed by numerous amendments to it and the Law on the Fauna, as well as the Regulations on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 05.29.2008 No. 404 (Sobraniye zakonodatelstva Rossiyskoy Federatsii, 2008, No. 22, Art. 2581). Based on these documents, important regional decisions were made. Thus, by order of the Governor 365-PA dated December 26, 2007, the Directorate for the Protection, Control and Regulation and Use of Wildlife Objects was established in Primorye.

With all these transformations, however, what remains unchanged is that the exploitation of natural resources, the management of extraction and control remain concentrated in the same or in interdependent state bodies.

The difference of the current moment lies in the fact that the threat to the expansion of nature does not come directly from state structures, but from the actual producers and owners of natural resources - large monopolies. The strength of these monopolies is all the more growing against the background of the weakness of the legislative and executive authorities, in the conditions of concentrating the functions of state environmental control and management of natural resources in one state body. At the same time, monopolies show more energy and foresight than any state structures in the past. And here it should be recognized that they have achieved a lot. Most of the main constructions are carried out without necessary deductions to compensate for the damage caused to nature.

The attempt initiated by the Legislative Assembly to introduce Korean pine (cedar) into the regional Red Book in Primorye was not crowned with the expected success.

A big threat to the leopard population is the project of laying a gas pipeline along the southwestern Primorye. This highway will continue the fragmentation of the area of the almost extinct species that began with the construction of the high-speed highway.

The threat of building an oil refinery in the immediate vicinity of the Vostok marine reserve has not been removed. On the territory of the Mining Taiga Station of the Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, survey work is being carried out to justify the underground burning of coal deposits located there, which poses a threat to the Ussuriysky nature reserve, the Shtykovsky reservoir that feeds the city of Vladivostok, and the recreational zone of the city of Ussuriysk.

Much is said about the imperfection of environmental legislation, but the changes that have taken place in the last 3 years do little to improve it, and often exacerbate the shortcomings. So, in fact, the system of payments for environmental pollution has been eliminated, the reserves are deprived of many former tax benefits, even claims for damages for violation of the reserve regime are subject to income tax.

In Primorye, since 1992, the approved by the Regional Council has been operating people's deputies"Long-term program for the protection and rational use of natural resources of Primorsky Krai for the period up to 2005" (Environmental program). Five years have passed since its completion, but Primorsky Krai still does not have an equivalent environmental document. In some regions of the country, Action Plans have been adopted, which to a certain extent may be adequate to regional environmental programs.

At the same time, in some cases, there are examples of successful protection of protected areas and adjacent territories from the destructive effect of some projects that have not been worked out from the environmental point of view. The transfer of the oil terminal from the Perevoznaya station area, located in close proximity to the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve, can be considered a great success of the "green movement".

In response to the transboundary spread of pollution, the Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences has developed a program to ensure the environmental safety of the Far Eastern Seas.

As before, the public examination of projects remains the most important means of protecting protected areas when laying main roads, pipelines and power lines. And its timely, competent and full implementation is very important. But, as a rule, companies provide fragments of projects for examination, and very significant circumstances often remain hidden. In addition, large companies are working on a system of profanation of public expertise, when an expert opinion is given by non-resident (usually Moscow) organizations, whose powers must be challenged. In other cases, such as in the Magadan region shelf development project, designers greatly overestimate the positive effects and expected benefits for the local population.

The current moment as a whole is characterized by a little controlled over-exploitation of all types of natural resources. Forested areas are especially affected. According to the certificate of the Primorsky Territory Forest Department, the area under ripe and overmature cedar forests decreased from 1847.3 thousand hectares in 1978 to 233 thousand hectares in 2010. Continuous reorganization of structures and departments designed to control the exploitation of forests distracts the already small staff of inspectors from the performance of their duties.

The rights of huntsmen and other employees of hunting farms still remain curtailed. The public inspection corps has been completely liquidated. As a result, poaching and predation flourishes, destroying the natural habitats of key and rare species of animals and plants.

The extermination of cedar and cedar-broad-leaved forests undermines the food base of wild animals, primarily ungulates. In search of food and fleeing from hunters, more and more animals are concentrated in protected areas. Along with ungulates, large predators also accumulate there. Excessive density of ungulates in some reserves has already led to starvation, which is especially noticeable in the case of spotted deer. On the other hand, an increase in the density of predators is fraught with diseases, and there have already been cases of tigers appearing in settlements with diseases of unknown etiology.

As a result of the increased concentration of animals, poaching is activated along the perimeter of protected areas and in buffer zones. Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation dated November 27, 2008 No. 315 "On approval of the Regulations on the issuance of nominal one-time licenses for the use of wildlife objects classified as hunting objects in protected areas of federal significance" (Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 26, 2008 No. 13025) makes it possible to hunt legal grounds and directly in specially protected areas.

Thus, the pressure of persecution of wild animals increases, and the possibilities of their reproduction deteriorate. Under these conditions, the role of protected areas is especially great. In fact, only in protected areas are there still ripe and overmature cedar forests, as well as high-yielding plantations of Mongolian oak, which form the basis of the well-being of the entire taiga population. However, it is these species that are especially attractive to loggers, and therefore there is a threat of penetration of logging into protected areas. On the other hand, the legal protection of protected areas cannot be considered sufficient, and the number and volume of violations cannot be compared with the number and severity of the penalties applied.

Therefore, today the primary task is to preserve the protected areas in full, as well as their conservation status. It is also unacceptable that economic activity in protected areas should become the basis for their survival.

Taking into account the low percentage of areas occupied by protected areas, the slow increase in their number and the rapid degradation of certain areas due to direct and indirect anthropogenic impact, one should strive to ensure the functional interaction of all elements of the network of protected areas, the creation of ecological migration corridors, incl. and cross-border.

CONCLUSION

The fauna of Primorsky Krai is very diverse in its composition.

However, there are a lot of problems in preserving the species of animals listed in the Red Book. Although many have almost disappeared from this territory.

On the territory of the Primorsky Territory there are several nature reserves, sanctuaries and territories protected by the state, which contributes little to the conservation of endangered and rare species of the animal world.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.fegi.ru
www.primorsky.ru
www.window.edu.ru

The Amur tiger has become a kind of symbol of the Primorsky Territory. More importantly, this unique cat is endangered. A rare subspecies of the tiger lives in Primorye, the number of which has stabilized at a low level. Over the past century, the population of the Amur tiger has experienced profound and dramatic changes: in the late 1930s and early 1940s, when about an order of animals remained in the entire range within the country, then a turning point to a gradual increase until 1990, when the number of tigers may reached the level of individuals. The main factor that brought the tiger to the brink of extinction was the direct persecution of it by man, since 1947. Legislative protection of the tiger has been introduced in Russia. The most important negative factor was the intensified poaching, which has acquired since the beginning of the 90s. commercial nature (skins, bones and other parts of dead tigers are sold in most countries of East Asia as valuable medicinal raw materials). At present, a detailed Strategy for the Conservation of the Amur Tiger in Russia has been adopted and comprehensive efforts are being made to normalize the situation with this rare and beautiful predator.

Far Eastern or amur leopard, is the northernmost of all leopard subspecies. Its population is considered to be genetically isolated and requires measures to be taken to preserve it as a genetically unique component in the system of species diversity of both the region and the world as a whole. Currently, there are no more than 50 leopards in the region, and scientists are making every effort to save this animal from extinction. The weight of the leopard does not exceed 80 kg. Its winter fur is thick, with bright colors: black or black-brown solid or rosette-shaped spots are scattered over an ocher-red background. The leopard walks and jumps completely without noise, and the bright colors perfectly mask it in any season, so it is very rare to see this slender cat with soft smooth movements.

Wild forest cat, the smallest feline in the Far East. Individuals of a wild cat are much larger than domestic cats, old males weigh up to 10 kg. Feeds on rodents, hazel grouse, pheasants, crushes young roes. The way of life is hidden, nocturnal, and spends the day in hollows, rocks, in thickets of bushes.

The brown bear, the largest bear in Europe and Asia, is widely distributed throughout the Ussuri Territory, although the main part of the species habitat is confined to the central part of Sikhote-Alin. Most of the time this animal spends in search of food, feeding mainly on plant foods. As you know, brown bears hibernate, using dens for wintering, located under the eversion of a tree or in a windbreak in coniferous forests, mainly in deaf, deep-snow areas of the mountains. Insufficiently well-fed for normal winter sleep, bears do not hibernate. These are the so-called connecting rods, which have a habit of wandering through the taiga all winter in search of any food, up to the remnants of wolf meals. They attack ungulates and are dangerous for humans when they meet.

The red wolf is listed in the Red Books of the IUCN and Russia. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, packs of red wolves regularly appeared throughout their range in Russia, but since the 1930s, each case of meeting this animal has become an exceptional rarity. The disappearance of this species in the coastal region was a catastrophic reduction in its numbers in the adjacent territory of China, from where, apparently, its races to the territory of Russia took place. The red wolf at present cannot be considered a permanent species of the fauna of Primorye until its reproduction in this territory is proved.

One of the rarest ungulates in Russia - goral * - is found in the mountains of Sikhote-Alin. This species is endangered and has survived only in the most inaccessible parts of the ridge. Favorite habitats are steep rocky cliffs descending directly to the sea. Goral jumps with amazing ease along steep steeps, making swift jerks and jumping up to two meters. Gorals are not adapted to a long run and try not to move away from the saving rocks. Currently, the total number of these animals is estimated in individuals, of which only 200 gorals live outside the protected areas. Hunting and trapping of the goral has been prohibited since 1924, the species is listed in the Red Books of the IUCN and Russia.

Ussuri spotted deer. The summer coloring of these animals is very beautiful - numerous white spots are scattered over a bright orange background. No wonder the Chinese call this deer hua-lu, which means flower deer. It is believed that in Primorye there are two ecological forms of this narrow-range subspecies - wild and park. It is wild deer populations that are protected by law. At present, aboriginal populations have survived only in the Lazovsky and Olginsky districts, mainly in the Lazovsky Reserve and the territory adjacent to it. Deer, unlike bovids (bulls, goats and rams), change their antlers every year. In the first stages of growth, deer antlers are soft, covered with delicate skin with hair; only by autumn do they become hard and ossify. Horns before ossification are called antlers and are widely used for the preparation of the drug pantocrine. It was this fact that served as one of the reasons for the extermination of spotted deer at the beginning of the century.

In the south of the Khasansky district, there is the only colony of the long-winged longwing in Russia, which is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Unfortunately, this colony, which numbered up to 1000 individuals, was located in fortifications on the border with China, and there is evidence that it was destroyed in connection with the recently completed demarcation of the Russian-Chinese border. Red Data Books of IUCN and Russia view - giant shrew, which fully justifies its name: its mass reaches 15 g. This animal is so rare that not a single adult male has yet been caught, and not many zoological museums in the world can boast of having at least one copy of this shrew.

The pearl of the Far East - Primorsky Krai is located in the southeast of Russia, on the coast of the Sea of Japan, where Pacific Ocean- the world's largest ocean meets the largest major mainland- Eurasia.

The islands, which are located in the Peter the Great Bay, are also part of the region. In the north it borders on Primorye Khabarovsk region, in the west it borders with China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The landscape of Primorsky Krai is distinguished by a complex surface with many mountain ranges, volcanic plateaus, intermountain depressions and river valleys.

Flora of Primorsky Krai

The flora of Primorye is very rich and diverse. It contains plants from three geobotanical regions at once. More than two hundred and fifty species of trees and shrubs and about four thousand species of plants grow in the Primorsky Territory.

This region is unique in terms of the number of endemic plants. Here you can see Amur velvet, shrub and iron birch, aralia, Komarov's lotus. Over 70% of Primorsky Krai is occupied by the Ussuri taiga. The mountainous relief contributed to the formation of seven high-altitude plant belts: the coastal belt, the oak forest belt, the cedar-broad-leaved forest belt, the fir-spruce forest belt, the stone-birch forest belt, the belt consisting of thickets of elfin cedar and the belt of mountain-tundra vegetation. Coastal vegetation extends along the seashore, which consists mainly of herbaceous plants. Often here it is possible to meet sand-loving sedge, Asiatic mertensia, long-tailed duck, grate and many others. Among the shrubs, a wrinkled rose (also called a large-fruited wild rose) often comes across.

At an altitude of one hundred to three hundred meters, the forest zone begins, most of which are Mongolian oak, Amur linden, small-leaved maple, David's aspen and Manchurian birch. At altitudes from two hundred to six hundred meters there is a cedar-broad-leaved forest. The vegetation here is especially abundant. The fir-spruce belt interspersed with Komarov larch, yellow and woolly birch, yellow and green maples, as well as Korean cedar can reach a height of one thousand to two thousand meters. Even higher, at an altitude of one thousand five hundred meters above sea level, stone-birch forests rise. They are complemented by fir and spruce.

The belt, consisting of subalpine shrubs, manifests itself especially brightly at a height exceeding a thousand meters. In addition to lush thickets of elfin cedar, wild rosemary, golden and Sikhotealin rhododendrons grow here, lingonberries are hiding in the grass. On some peaks, the height of which exceeds 1400 meters, you can find plants of the mountain tundra. The South Ussuri forest is colorful with its relic plants, as well as woody and herbaceous lianas.

Fauna of Primorsky Krai

In Primorye, species that are quite remote in their geographical origin peacefully coexist. These are mainly representatives of the Manchurian fauna, but there are also inhabitants of the subtropics and even Siberia.

Each plant community is characterized by certain representatives of the animal world. In black fir deciduous forest the southern fauna lives. Among the birds, these are: tree wagtail, cuckoo, kinglet and other birds. From the world of insects, there are surprisingly colored ones: epicopeia, alcina tail-bearer, many nocturnal peacock-eyes. Among predators, those animals that are able to eat plant foods are familiar here: badgers, white-breasted bears. Spotted deer, leopards are also found here, and goral is still preserved in hard-to-reach rocky places.

Among the reptiles typical of Primorye, one should mention the patterned snake, the black muzzle, and the tiger snake. Amphibians represented Far Eastern frog and the Ussuri triton. The Siberian grouse, Japanese starling, Ussuri scoops and warblers are typical for the cedar-broad-leaved belt of birds. Among the insects of Primorye, the blue tail-bearer, pied butterflies of all kinds, silkworms, many bright ground beetles, etc. are especially beautiful. Tigers, bears, wild boars, red deer, roe deer, squirrels, Manchurian hares, hedgehogs, the Amur forest cat and many other rare animals live here in the cedar forests. The favorite food of most of them are pine nuts and oak acorns.

Reptiles are represented by the brown muzzle and the Amur snake.

The fir-spruce forest is inhabited by: nutcrackers, bullfinches, siskins, black tits. Of the mammals - brown bears, stoats, sables, lynxes, wolverines, weasels, white hare. Thrushes live in the taiga of light coniferous trees, musk deer is found. Sometimes there are black hazel grouse, Japanese waxwings, coniferous moth butterflies, spruce beetle beetle. Eurasian, East Siberian and Okhotsk species live in the stone-birch forest. Sable is found among predators, mice-voles, shrews are found among rodents. Bluetails, warblers, and spotted pipits hide among the thickets of subalpine shrubs. There are broad-winged cuckoos, blue stone thrushes, blue flycatchers and nightingales. Typical forest birds also settle here - siskins, bullfinches, thrushes, nutcrackers.

In the summer, moose graze in the meadows, the white hare winds, and the lynx hunts. Bears rule in tall grass glades and lingonberries, and chipmunks flicker in thickets of elfin cedar. Also here come across entire colonies of northern and alpine pikas.

In the alpine tundra, birds such as the mountain pipit, the alpine convoluter live, many beetles and butterflies fly. Among them there are also Chinese scoop butterflies, as well as Kuznetsov's grasshopper. In the rivers of Primorye, salmon fish spawn: pink salmon, sim, chum salmon. Occasionally found rare freshwater shellfish- seaside pearl.

A large number of plants and animals listed in the Red Book of Russia live in the reserves of the Primorsky Territory. Among the plants, it is worth mentioning: yew spiky, large-cupped mountain goat weed, hard juniper, Far Eastern violet, single-seeded conifer, real slipper, Schreber's brazilian, Fori's rhododendron, real ginseng, high lure.

Of the mammals to be remembered Amur tigers, spotted deer, Himalayan bears. From birds: mandarin duck, scaly merganser, Ussuri plover, Japanese snipe, osprey, hawk hawk, pheasant, white-tailed eagle and black stork. From insects: Saturnia Artemis, Dyakonov's grilloblattida, relict longhorn beetle, etc.

Climate in Primorsky Krai

Primorsky Krai is characterized by wet, monsoon climate temperate latitudes. In winter, under the influence of the continental winter monsoon in Primorye, cold weather sets in with an abundance of clear days, low snow cover and severe frosts. There is little rainfall. The average temperature in January is 14 degrees Celsius.

With the onset of spring, moist cold air comes from the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. In the period from May to June, the Primorsky coast is characterized by the onset of cloudy and cold weather with fog and drizzling rain. As the distance from the coast deep into the region, the air temperature rises. Seaside summer is cloudy and humid. Its first half is characterized by prolonged, drizzling precipitation on the coastal territory, and the second half by prolonged continuous rains and heavy downpours.

It is no coincidence that the autumn season in Primorye is called the “golden Primorsky autumn”. Here it is the best time of the year with warm, dry and sunny weather. A sharp cooling begins in late October - early November.

Ungulates in the south of the Far East are very widespread, and the following species belong to the commercial group: reindeer, elk, red deer, roe deer, musk deer and wild boar.

Reindeer, red deer and musk deer are of lesser importance. Rare, forbidden species include sika deer, goral and bighorn sheep. The ungulate fishery has great importance in the hunting economy of the Far East. Below is a description of the state of resources and fishery of certain species of ungulates.

wild reindeer. The range of the reindeer includes ten districts in the Khabarovsk Territory: Khabarovsky, Verkhnebureinsky, Komsomolsky, Sovetsko-Gavansky, Nikolaevsky, named after Polina Osipenko, Tuguro-Chumikansky, Ulchsky, Okhotsky, Ayano-Maysky. The population density of wild reindeer is from 0.5 to 2, and on average - 0.6 head per 1000 ha. total area The range of this deer in the region is 3400 thousand hectares. In the southern strip of the region, a limit is introduced on the shooting of wild reindeer.

Total livestock in the Khabarovsk Territory wild deer is approximately 10-11 thousand. Of these, about 1 thousand heads can be harvested annually.

Reindeer in the Amur region is common in the Dzheltulak, Zeya and Selemdzhinsky districts. Previously, he constantly lived in the upper reaches of the Kur and Urmi rivers, in the Tumnin river basin, in the upper reaches of the Khor, Anyui and Kopni rivers. Here it was mined by local residents (Evenks, Yakuts, Evens, Orochi). In some places, the restoration of the reindeer population has begun, although this is strongly impeded. Forest fires and mass logging in the basin of the Bureya and Amgun rivers, as well as the development of domestic reindeer breeding (northern regions). To date, the total number of reindeer here is estimated at 25-30 thousand heads.

Reindeer in the Far East is mined in small quantities. The annual shooting is only 600 individuals, or 0.6% of the population. It is impossible to count on an increase in reindeer harvesting, due to the inaccessibility of hunting grounds. In the future, obviously, it is necessary to limit the hunting of wild reindeer. There is a prospect for the development of reindeer breeding in certain areas of the Amur Region, the Khabarovsk Territory, and partly in Primorye.

The elk is widespread in the Far East, except for the south of Primorye. Its number in 1975 was determined at 34 thousand heads. The number of moose decreased significantly only in Primorsky Krai (from 4 to 1.9 thousand individuals). Moose are most numerous in the lowland wetlands of the Amur Valley. So, for example, at least 400 animals, or about 13-15% of the entire population, were shot annually along the Amgun River in the area named after Polina Osipenko of the Khabarovsk Territory.

In summer, elk concentrates near the sea coast, in floodplains and in lowlands. AT the best places habitat density of elk is 15-20 individuals in summer and 8-12 in winter per 1000 ha. The average population density of moose is much lower: in the Amur region and in Primorye 0.4-0.6, in the Khabarovsk Amur region 0.8-1.0 individuals per 1000 ha. At present, the total number of elk in the Far East is estimated at 34.5 thousand heads, including 16.5 thousand in the Khabarovsk Territory, 15.5 thousand in the Amur Region and 2.5 thousand in Primorye. In recent years, under licenses, 700-800 elks have been harvested per season in the Amur Region, 800-900 in the Khabarovsk Territory, and 60-80 elks in Primorye. A large number of moose are shot illegally. All this leads to a decrease in the number of moose in the Far East.

Elk in the Far East Territory is an important object of not only sports, but also commercial hunting. The extraction of moose here should be strictly rationed in compliance with the terms and rules of hunting.

red deer very widespread in the south of the Far East. This is due not only to the nature of the vegetation in these places, but also to the depth of the snow cover. highest density red deer (5-8 specimens per 1000 ha) is observed in floodplain broad-leaved and cedar-broad-leaved forests, where snow depth reaches 30-40 cm, and the animal is not pursued by humans.

In the past, in the Far East, fishing for deer antlers was often practiced, which were caught in large quantities. So, for example, in 1924, 2435 pairs of antlers were mined. The total number of red deer is now estimated at 38-40 thousand heads, of which 3.1 thousand live in the Amur Region, 15.5 thousand in the Khabarovsk Territory and 19.6 thousand in Primorye.

In the Khabarovsk Territory, in the northern part of its range, the red deer has a density of 1.0-2.5, and in the southern - 19-47 heads per 100 km 2. Manure deer blanks in this region are mastered only by 25%. It is possible to shoot up to 700 heads, but in fact it is only 260 individuals.

In the mountainous regions of Primorye, the red deer prevails over the elk in terms of numbers. In the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, the number of red deer in the past reached 10 thousand heads. Recently, in the best lands of Primorye in the south of Sikhote-Alin, the number of deer was 60-80, and sometimes reached 150-200 heads per 100 km 2. In places of concentration of animals, the density near solonetzes reached 20-30 heads, and along river valleys - 15-20 heads per 1000 ha. The highest population density of red deer is noted in the basins of the rivers Khor, Vikin, Bolshaya Ussurka and in other areas of Primorye.

The red deer in the south of the Far East is an important prey for ungulates. In Primorye, the official average annual shooting is only a part of the total deer hunting. In this region, hunters annually hunt about 1.5-2 thousand red deer. In the basin of the Bolshaya Ussurka River, these animals are shot 3-4 times more than permits are issued. If 10% of shooting is allowed, then 3.5-4 thousand deer can be harvested annually.

In total, 600-800 animals are currently being hunted, including 100-200 heads for antlers. In the future, it is planned to increase the annual production of red deer to 3.5-4.5 thousand, from which they will receive up to 1000 pairs of antlers and 3-4 thousand centners of meat. However, such big size prey can undermine the natural resources of this species of fauna.

Roe widespread in the south of the Far East, where it lives mainly in forest-steppe regions and in the zone of broad-leaved forests. In the past, the roe deer in the Amur region was the most widespread species of fauna. So, in 1883, the transition of roe deer from the north to the south-west was described, when 150 thousand heads were harvested within one year.

In 1974, the total stock of roe deer in this region was determined at 57 thousand heads, of which 42.5 thousand lived in the Amur Region, 9.0 in the Khabarovsk Territory, and 5.5 thousand in Primorye. In the Far East, with a total roe deer shooting limit of 5-6 thousand heads, the actual production reached 15-25 thousand animals.

In the Amur region, roe deer are usually found in taiga and forest-steppe regions. Its average habitat density here is 2.5 individuals per 1000 ha. In the Middle Amur region, the roe deer is the most numerous species of deer, but its number and range are sharply reduced. So, for example, in the northwestern regions, the roe deer disappeared almost everywhere.

In the Khabarovsk Territory, in the basin of the Amgun and Tugur rivers, the roe deer inhabits the lands of the Nimsleno-Chukcharigskaya lowland, where larch forests with bushes and areas of steppes predominate. On mountain slopes covered with dark coniferous taiga and in winter with high snow cover (60-90 cm), roe deer are practically absent.

In order to most quickly restore the number of roe deer, it is proposed to completely ban hunting for 4-5 years. In the Khabarovsk Territory, the density of roe deer was 10-40 animals per 100 km2. Only in some places of mass accumulation of animals, for example, in Birobidzhan, their number reached 250 heads per 100 km 2. The annual limit for shooting roe deer in the Khabarovsk Territory is 2.2-3 thousand heads.

In the coastal part of Primorsky Krai, the density of roe deer does not exceed 1.8 individuals per 1,000 ha, with an average herding rate of 2 individuals. In the central regions of Primorye, among the mountain spurs of the Sikhote-Alin, with a predominance of coniferous-deciduous forests, there are 0.2 individuals per 1000 ha. On the vast Ussuri-Khanka lowland with a forest-steppe landscape, the population density reaches 5.3-8.7 roe deer per 1000 ha, with an average herding rate of 2.4 individuals. In Primorsky Krai, the distribution of roe deer is characterized by the following figures: in coniferous-deciduous forests - 4.5%, in broad-leaved forests - 23.4, in sparse mixed forests - 43.1%. These data can be used in planning the roe deer fishery and protection of this species.

According to new data (Kucherenko, Shvets, 1977), the distribution and stocks of roe deer in the Amur-Ussuri Territory are characterized as follows: the best areas are located at the mouths of the Amur and Ussuri rivers, on the Zeya-Bureya, Middle-Amur and Ussuri-Khanka plains, as well as in the south of Primorye. In the best habitats, the population density of roe deer reaches 60-80 individuals per 1000 ha, in bridges the concentration of animals - up to 130-150, and in the most typical habitats - 20-30 animals. In terms of average density, this is 5-10 individuals per 1000 ha. As a result of a sharp decrease in the number, hunting for roe deer was banned in the Amur Region in 1972, in the Khabarovsk Territory - in 1974. In Primorye, the limit on shooting these animals was reduced.

It is necessary to conduct a general accounting of the number of roe deer in all its habitats, and hunting is completely prohibited for two to three years. With a reduction in poaching and a large number of predators, the number of roe deer can be restored (an increase of 20-25%), since this species of fauna is well tolerated in a cultivated landscape and can be an important object of commercial and sport hunting.

musk deer in the Far East, it is distributed mainly in the northern part, where it lives along mountain ranges in coniferous (taiga type) forests.

In the Amur region, the musk deer is found in mountain taiga forests and along the valleys of the Lopcha, Larba, Selemdzha, Sugadan, Kharga and other rivers. The density of the musk deer population in various parts of this region ranges from 0.5 to 6 individuals per 1000 ha.

In the Khabarovsk Territory, musk deer are quite numerous. Total of this species is 4 thousand individuals, and the average annual shooting reaches only 150-300 animals (6.7% of the population). However, in our opinion, the production of musk deer can be increased up to 1600 pieces per year.

In Primorye, musk deer is found mainly in the northern and middle parts of the region. So, in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, it is taken into account from the Golubichny Ridge to the Sea of Japan. The highest density of musk deer habitat was noted in dark coniferous forests, where in March 1974 there were up to 20 tracks per 1 km of the route. In cedar plantations, the number of musk deer is less, and it rarely descends into wide valleys to the foot of the ridges. In summer, these animals move more widely: sometimes they were seen 5-8 km from the nearest coniferous forest. The increase in the density of musk deer is restrained by the lack of the main food - lichens and the persecution of marsh marsh (Astafiev, Zaitsev, 1975).

Fishing for musk deer is often predatory. Often they get it only for the sake of musk, leaving the skin and meat at the hunting place. In the hunting farms of the Far East, the musk deer is poorly used: no more than 300 individuals are hunted per year, although the size of the livestock allows increasing its production. Shooting of musk deer must be limited so as not to deplete the stocks of this species of fauna.

Boar widely distributed in the Far East in the southern taiga, in cedar-deciduous forests. It is common in the south of Primorye and in the middle part of the Sikhote-Alin. The total number of wild boars in the good lands of Primorye is 40-60, reaching in some places 200 animals per 100 km 2.

The wild boar population in the Far East has now stabilized. The average density of wild boars in the region reaches 2-4 individuals per 1000 ha of cedar-deciduous forests. During the years of a large harvest of Siberian stone pine in some fodder lands, a density of up to 40 heads per 1000 ha is created.

Wild boar in the Far East is the main object of prey for ungulates. For 1966-1971 on average, up to 1000 goals were shot here per season. Primorsky Krai takes a leading place in the shooting of the wild boar, which makes up half of the prey of all ungulates. During the winter of 1972/73, 1455 wild boars were killed in Primorye, which is 80% of the total seasonal production of this animal in the Far East. The second place is occupied by the Khabarovsk Territory, where 200-300 wild boars are hunted. The third place belongs to the Amur region, where only 100-120 goals are shot. Despite the licensed wild boar harvesting system, annually it is harvested 3-4 times more than permits are issued. In fact, 3-4 thousand wild boars are harvested here annually, or 10-15% of its livestock. In addition, large predators destroy about 10 thousand wild boars per year. In this regard, the number of wild boar has decreased in the Far East, and is now slowly recovering.

The above outline of the resources of the fauna of the Far East gives only a general idea of the state of fisheries in this region. Thus, regulated hunting in the south of the Far East of the above-mentioned fur and ungulate animals will contribute to the restoration of their numbers and expansion of their habitat.

The project is the red book of the Primorsky Territory. Fauna Interesting cases about animals of the Primorsky Territory

Flora of Primorsky Krai

Fauna of Primorsky Krai

Climate in Primorsky Krai

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