Dzeren description. Daursky Reserve

The Daursky Nature Reserve presents all the animals that live or lived in this southern corner of Transbaikalia. Having looked on the shore of Lake Zun-Torey at those grazing peacefully and importantly, seeing many various types birds, closer to the border with Mongolia you will come across small groups of gazelles jumping like lightning.

Daursky Reserve turned out to be the only place in Russia where this antelope is constantly found. There is even a “maternity hospital” created here for her.

Consider gazelle in wildlife almost impossible, he jumps and runs at a speed of 70-80 kilometers per hour. They cross the road right in front of the car, like brown shadows. Therefore, it is impossible to describe it visually; let’s turn to the primary sources.

The Mongolian gazelle, or big-toothed antelope, is an ungulate animal of the genus gazelle of the bovid family. Dzeren are close to the genus of true gazelles. Individuals of this breed are light and slender. Males weigh from 24 to 39 kilograms, females are lighter - only 20 - 28 kg. The length of the male individual is from 105 to 148 cm, the height at the withers is up to 84 cm, the female from 110 to 121 cm and up to 74 cm, respectively. Tail up to 12 centimeters. Males with horns 18 – 28 cm long, the color is yellowish-sandy above, white below. In winter, due to long hair, animals become thicker and shaggy, long hair cover the forehead and crown, long sideburns hang from the cheeks. Males have a highly developed larynx, which protrudes from the bottom of the neck in the form of an outgrowth; it is also called “backalo”. The legs of gazelles are thin, but strong and resilient. The daily movements of dzerens can be 150 - 200 kilometers. The hooves are small, so in snowy winters it is difficult for them to get food from under the snow.

The rut of these animals is just at New Year, at the end of December, beginning of January. Before the rut, adult strong males form a so-called “harem”, fighting off several females from the herd. Males protect their harem and the area of ​​land they occupy at this time from the invasion of other males, while constantly running around and using the “backal” to make powerful barking sounds. It is not difficult to breed gazelles in captivity - the animals are herd animals, are easily tamed, and reproduce normally. As a rule, there is no acute forage competition between gazelles and domestic ungulates.

The young are born in late June - early July. Females begin to give birth to cubs in the second year of life, usually one young gazelle is born, but there are exceptions - 2. By the beginning of childbirth, the gazelle large groups gather in clusters and, dividing into small groups and individuals, are gradually distributed with high population density along the so-called “ maternity hospitals» – areas of the summer territory used annually for calving.

In Mongolia and China in the first half of the 20th century, about 2-3 million of these gazelles grazed. These are herd animals, and sometimes they form huge herds of several thousand each. The gazelle populations in western Mongolia were virtually wiped out, leaving approximately 300,000 individuals in the eastern part of the country.

Currently, gazelles live in Mongolia and autonomous region Inner Mongolia in China. In Russia it is found in Dauria, in the Chui steppe ( Gorny Altai) and the Ubsunur Basin (Tuva), when they enter from Mongolia. In the 30s of the twentieth century, gazelle was numerous in Tuva. Currently, it is constantly found in the Daursky and Sokhondinsky nature reserves in the south. Trans-Baikal Territory.

Dzeren in Transbaikalia began to return to beginning of XXI century, in January 2001, a huge number of animals came from Mongolia due to heavy snow, of which 800–1500 individuals remained. However, most of them were destroyed within two years. Only in the Daursky Nature Reserve and its immediate surroundings did a stable sedentary group of gazelles form, which gave rise to the restoration of the species in Transbaikalia and Russia.

Over time, thanks to the adoption of the Program for the restoration of gazelle in Transbaikalia, it was possible to achieve a sustainable increase in the number and distribution of this animal. The long-term epic of restoration of gazelle Russian territory continues, and its initial phase is described in detail in the book “First results and prospects for the restoration of the Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) in Russia.”

The program for the restoration of gazelle in Transbaikalia was developed in 2001 and is designed until 2015 inclusive. The goal of the program is to ensure the formation of stable groups of Mongolian gazelle in the South-Eastern Transbaikalia with a population of at least 2000 individuals and a habitat area of ​​at least 500 thousand hectares.

The program is designed in three stages:
1st – in the period from 2001 to 2003. – to create conditions for stabilizing the number of gazelles that have settled in the vicinity of the Daursky Nature Reserve since 1993, and additionally settled after the migration of 2001.
2nd – in the period from 2004 to 2009. – to ensure the spread of the species over an area of ​​up to 250 thousand hectares and the growth of its number to 1000 individuals in the North Uldzin and Zuntorei groups living in the vicinity of the Daursky Nature Reserve.
3rd – in the period from 2010 to 2015. – by reintroducing and supporting natural distribution, create one or two more groups in other parts of the historical range of the gazelle in the South-Eastern Transbaikalia, increasing the area occupied by the species to 500 thousand hectares with a population of 2000 individuals.

In the winter of 2009-2010, about 40 thousand steppe antelope migrated to Transbaikalia from Mongolia, where there were severe frosts. Then, for the safety of these animals, border guards, at the request of Rosprirodnadzor, made passages in engineering structures at the border to allow “migrants” to pass through, and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation asked the government of the Trans-Baikal Territory to stop illegal hunting of gazelles. In addition, in 2011, a nature reserve"Valley of gazelles" with an area of ​​more than 200 thousand hectares for the conservation of rare steppe antelopes.

Now, after a series of forced migrations to Russia from Mongolia, antelopes partially remain on the territory of the Russian Federation. Steppe gazelles mainly live in the Transbaikal region, in different years the number of animals varied from 4000 to 20 thousand individuals. In Russia, dzerens are listed in the Red Book.

In the wild, gazelles can be found on the territory of the Daursky Nature Reserve. You can get to the Daursky Nature Reserve in two ways: officially, through the management of the reserve, or independently, at your own peril and risk.

Antelopes are typical inhabitants African savannas, Asian deserts and forests. Most of the several dozen antelope species live in the tropics and subtropics. In Russia there are two representatives of this subfamily of Bovids: in Kalmykia - the saiga, and in Transbaikalia - the Mongolian gazelle ( Procapragutturosa). Two other close relatives of the Mongolian gazelle, the Przewalski's gazelle and the Tibetan gazelle, live in China and are very scarce. The essay will focus on “our” Mongolian gazelle, included in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation and the Trans-Baikal Territory.

Now the species inhabits mainly the Central Asian steppes, mainly within Mongolia. Until the middle of the last century, the range of the gazelle was extensive. It covered the territory from the Chui steppe in Altai to the southern spurs of the Greater Khingan in China. By now, there are almost no gazelle left in China, except for the gradually fading winter migrations from Mongolia, which are fatal for the animals. In the last abode of the species, Mongolia, the main antelope reserves are concentrated in the eastern part of the country. However, here too the number after a noticeable increase in the mid-90s. fell sharply again in 1998-2001. However, about a million of these animals still live in Mongolia.

Dzeren have a dense but graceful build. They are close in size to the Siberian roe deer, but somewhat more massive. By the end of autumn, individual males can reach a weight of 52, and females - 37 kg. The average weight of adults is less. Only males have lyre-shaped horns 18-28 cm long. Thin strong legs allow antelopes to reach speeds of up to 70-75 km/h, and in some cases more. Feature This animal is highly gregarious. In numerous populations, almost all year round Most of the gazelles, if not disturbed, live in herds of several tens to two to three thousand heads. During autumn migration and in January–February, the herds are the largest. During the rutting period, which takes place in December, i.e. in one of the coldest months of the year, and during calving - in late June - early July, the herds break up, and many animals stay alone or in small groups. Females begin to reproduce in their second year of life. Adult males ready for breeding, usually older than two years, have been breaking up herds since November, trying to gather adult females in their rutting territory. In December, in the areas of the strongest staghorns, harem groups are formed, in which there are from one or two to six dozen females. Around such successful males there are competing males, keeping only a few females in harems, or vegetating alone throughout the rutting period. Calving takes place in the second half of June – early July. Females usually give birth to only one young. During the first days, the green gazelle pups, hidden in the grass, lie alone, only occasionally meeting with the mother who comes up to feed them. Only at the age of about a week do the cubs join the females, and then the herds.

One more interesting feature large populations of gazelle – seasonal migrations. At the end of August - October, large herds, united in groups of thousands, leave the summer territory in waves, one after another, and rush to the wintering areas along long-term migration routes. Such grandiose spectacles, when 30–40 thousand animals can be seen from one point, can now be observed less and less often. During the fall, part of the herds move 300–350 km from the breeding areas, and in the spring they slowly return. In general, the winter habitat is much larger than the summer one. On the periphery of the range there are perennial, small-numbered sedentary groups that do not migrate. curious detailed information you can also read about this ungulate in the book 100 questions about gazelle .

In the steppes of Eastern Transbaikalia, gazelle lived for a long time and were common or numerous. All early explorers of this region testify to this. In addition, huge herds of migrants from Mongolia and China came to Transbaikalia every year. The disappearance of gazelles is associated with excessive hunting, changes in habitats and increased competition from domestic animals. A.A. Cherkasov describes cases of mass bloody raids on dzeren, organized by the Cossacks back in the 19th century. Further increase in the number of people in Transbaikalia, the spread firearms and motorized transport has led to increased damage to wildlife. By the middle of the 20th century, the pressure on all game species of animals sharply increased, and some of them, including the gazelle, were completely exterminated here. A similar fate befell the argali a little earlier.

Local gazelle reappeared in Transbaikalia in the early 1990s. - after the creation of the Daursky Nature Reserve. In 1992, the first case of antelope breeding after a long break was noted in the reserve, and in 1993 the size of the local breeding group increased to 10–15, and in subsequent years to several dozen individuals. According to census data carried out in the fall in the Daursky Nature Reserve, including security zone, and in a specially created reserve "Valley of the gazelle" About 6,100 of these animals already live. How we managed to help the gazelle return from oblivion to the Transbaikal steppes can be read in more detail in the book « First results and prospects for the restoration of the Mongolian gazelle ( Procapra gutturosa ) in Russia" and in the section « Restoration program for gazelle in Transbaikalia" .

This little one steppe antelope is one of the endangered species of Russian animals. Unfortunately, even after it was included in the Red Book, the situation does not change radically, and the gazelle population continues to decline.

The animal is small. The body length of an adult is no more than one and a half meters. Moreover, its weight varies from 20 to 30 kilograms. The antelope looks very elegant. She is distinguished by a slender body and thin long legs. The main difference between males and females is the presence of a laryngeal crop and small curved horns, up to 30 centimeters long. The body of the antelope is covered with thick hair, light brown in color. In the belly area it is somewhat lighter.

In addition to Russia, you can meet the antelope in China and Mongolia. There she chose the territories of steppe plains and semi-deserts. In Russia, the population of dzeren is negligible. To a greater extent, it has been preserved only in Mongolia.

Antelopes live in a herd of several hundred individuals of different sexes. This is a very strong and hardy animal that constantly moves, covering vast distances in search of food. Dzeren are most active in the morning and evening time. During the day they can rest. They feed on green, lush grass. They are indifferent to water. Their body receives a sufficient amount of it with food. During periods of drought, antelope are constantly on the move. Their main task is to find areas with sufficient food and water. The most difficult period for gazelles is winter. At this time, the ground is covered with ice, and they simply cannot get to the grass. Animals starve and often die.

Currently, about one million dzeren live in the territories of Russia, Mongolia and China. At the same time, there are extremely few of them in Russia. It’s all because of the activities of a person who is actively invading their natural environment habitat. And, of course, the situation is complicated by poachers who hunt antelope, sometimes for fun. The poor animal is unable to compete with the modern jeeps that poachers use. It dies not only from bullets, but also under the wheels of cars.

The natural enemies of gazelles are predators. For example, they are hunted by the same wolves and lynxes. Young animals are killed by foxes and birds of prey.

The mating season of antelopes is from November to January. At this time, the herd is divided by gender (males stay separate from females). Then the situation changes dramatically, and the females return to the males. As a result, one large harem is formed. Each male becomes the owner of several females (usually up to ten), with whom he mates.

The female bears the offspring for six months, after which from one to two babies are born. Young animals reach sexual maturity at the age of two years.

In order to save the gazelle population, it was decided to include it in the Red Book and create protected area. Today, zoologists of the Daursky Nature Reserve are trying to restore the number of antelopes. But, as it turned out, desire alone is not enough. This can only be done through the joint efforts of Russia, China and Mongolia.

The Mongolian gazelle, as its name suggests, lives mainly in the semi-deserts and steppes of Mongolia. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he inhabited the Chui and Kurai steppes in Altai, Buryatia and Transbaikalia.

It was widespread in China. At the end of the twentieth century, in the territories of Russia and China there was a significant reduction in the number of these animals.

The Mongolian gazelle or large-breasted antelope has a sandy-gray color in winter, and in summer its coat acquires a yellowish-sandy tint, gradually turning into a white underside.

Shedding occurs twice a year, in spring and autumn. In the cold season, animals have coarse and long hair, and summer fur is short and sparse. The height of males at the withers reaches eighty centimeters, and body weight does not exceed forty-seven kilograms. Females are slightly smaller than males. Their height is about four centimeters smaller, and their weight is about thirty-four kilograms.

Males have horns on their heads, while females do not have them at all. Mongolian gazelles are characterized by a thick neck and a “crop” (larynx) protruding forward like a hump. They have perfectly developed eyesight. The gazelle can distinguish small objects at a distance of up to fifty meters, and they can see moving vehicles several kilometers away.

When danger approaches, antelopes notify other individuals by sharply blowing air through their nose, and can also stomp loudly with their front paws. They run away only if there is real danger. The main natural enemy of the gazelle is the wolf. A lone predator can only attack a crippled or sick antelope. But if they unite in flocks, their capabilities increase significantly. You can also note such predators as the golden eagle, fox, steppe eagle and corsac fox.

The toothed antelope is another name for the Mongolian gazelle.

Almost all year round, the goat antelope lives in herds ranging from several dozen to two to three thousand individuals. Moreover, the leaders of this huge horde are, as a rule, adult females. In December, when the rutting season passes, and in July, during calving, the large herd is divided into small groups. Females are ready to breed at two years of age. The duration of pregnancy is twenty-seven weeks. A large number of females gather together on certain territory and form a kind of “maternity hospital”. As a rule, they give birth to one, or less often, two cubs, weighing no more than four kilograms. After about twelve days, the baby is ready to follow its mother.

Dzeren are very active animals.

The mobile Mongolian gazelle is characterized by seasonal migration, sometimes even over considerable distances. In autumn they unite in numerous herds and leave summer pastures. One of the main reasons for migration is excessive snow cover and ice crust, which make it difficult to obtain food. Dzeren feed on grasses, shoots of bushes and leaves. Preference is given to such herbs as cinquefoil, snake grass, feather grass, twig grass, onion, wormwood, etc.

Dzeren - very rare species.

The life expectancy of females and males of goitered antelopes is not the same. Females live up to ten years, and males, a maximum of six. In this regard, females predominate in the herd.

The gazelle, or as it is often called, the goat antelope, is one of the animals that are included in the Red Book under the status of a type that has almost completely disappeared from the territory of Russia. Unfortunately, industrial interest in this species animals at one time led to the fact that the type almost completely disappeared from this territory.

The gazelle is a small, slender and even light antelope. Light because its weight does not exceed 30 kilograms and its length is about half a meter. They also have a tail - only 10 centimeters, but very mobile. The legs of antelopes are quite strong, but at the same time thin. This body design allows them to easily and quickly cover long distances and run away from danger.

Males are slightly different from females - they have a small protrusion in the area in the throat called a crop, and horns. Females do not have horns. Both the former and the latter have a sandy-yellow color, and closer to the belly it becomes lighter, almost white.

The horns of gazelles are relatively small - only 30 centimeters in height. At the base they are almost black, and closer to the top they become lighter. They are slightly twisted in shape. The height at the withers does not exceed half a meter.

Habitat and lifestyle

This type of antelope considers the steppe plains to be its optimal location, but it also sometimes enters mountain plateaus. On at the moment the animal mainly lives in Mongolia and China. And in the last century, dzeren was on the territory of Russia in quite large quantities– they could be found in Altai, Eastern Transbaikalia and Tyva. At that time thousands of herds of these animals lived peacefully here. Nowadays, in these territories, antelope can be found very rarely, and then only during their migration.

In Russia, dzeren disappeared due to the negative impact of several factors. So, during the Second World War they were caught en masse for meat. Before this, the decrease in their numbers was due to hunting, and only for fun - it was not difficult to catch up with an antelope in a car and the animal died from bullets, car wheels, or simply from fear.

The development of the agricultural industry also played an important role in all this - the plowing of the steppes reduced the areas suitable for living and reduced the amount of food supplies. As for the natural factors reducing the number of animals, these are predators and cold winters.

In 1961, fishing for dzeren was completely prohibited, but this did not improve the situation.

The mating season begins in late autumn and lasts almost until January. At this time, males leave the herd, and females gradually join them. Thus, a “harem” is obtained from one male and 5-10 females.

Pregnancy lasts approximately six months, so the cubs are born in the warm season. 1-2 babies are born, who by six months become almost adults.

Character

The gazelle is an animal that does not like solitude and lives only in a herd, consisting of several hundred or several thousand individuals. By their nature, animals are quite active - they quickly move from one place to another.

They feed mainly on various grains and grass. As for water, in the warm season, when the food is juicy, they can do without it for some time. They graze mainly in the early morning and evening, but prefer to rest during the day.

It is especially difficult for antelopes in winter, when it is almost impossible to get food from under the snow and ice. According to statistics, there are currently about 1 million individuals of this species in the world, but almost all of them live in Mongolia and China.