What animals are there in the Primorsky region. Flora and fauna

Primorye has no equal in Russia for the richness and diversity of flora and fauna. This is due to the success geographical location edges 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 across the territory of Primorye is determined by climate, terrain, vertical zonation and biodiversity of the plant world. It is thanks to the presence mountainous country Sikhote-Alin, the foothill and flat expanses of the Ussuri taiga, the abundance of rivers and lakes, the unique sea coast, we observe a special diversity of animals of the Primorsky Territory.

Primorye is home to 82 species of mammals, including: tiger, leopard, sika deer, goral, wapiti, 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 extremely diverse. 458 species of birds have been registered here, many of which are included in the Red Books of various ranks. For example, of all rare birds, listed in the Red Book of Russia, more than half live in forests, on sea ​​coast, lakes and rivers of Primorye. According to ornithologists, during the spring-autumn migrations, 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 fish species diversity, the Sea of ​​Japan has no equal among all the seas of Russia. There are 179 species of fish here alone, including: herring, flounder, pollock, navaga, salmon, greenling, smelt, etc. Invertebrate animals: crabs, shrimp, shellfish (mussels, scallops, oysters), octopus, sea cucumber, squid, sea ​​urchin, whelk, etc. There are up to 100 species of freshwater fish in the lakes and rivers of Primorye.

Distinctive feature the richest fauna of the region is the presence large number rare and endemic species requiring special protection measures. For this purpose, the region has created 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 Sika deer Goral Mole Mogera Giant shrew Ussuri clawed newt Far Eastern tortoise Black crane White-naped crane Red-crowned crane Great white heron Greater cormorant Scaly-clawed merganser Mandarin duck Fish eagle Spine-footed owl White-tailed eagle Golden eagle (eagle) Dikusha Paradise flycatcher Yankovsky's oatmeal Reed sutora Black carp Chinese perch (aukha)

The earth speaks to us in the language of sounds, colors, smells. The voices of countless lives come from all directions. Loud and already barely perceptible, but always exciting and calling, and every silent voice - big loss: the general chorus of life without him sounds weaker and quieter. The abundance and diversity of life in nature is the best indicator of its and our well-being. The responsive silence of the fields, the forest wilds are infused with mystery, the forests, steppes, mountains, seas are overflowing with life - and everything is fine! Open your eyes and the beauty of the earth will flow into you in waterfalls of colors. It is everywhere: around, above your head, under your feet. In the running of an animal, in the flight of a bird, in the play of a fish. All living things are imbued with poetry and beauty. And we can see and feel all this, now, always, forever and ever..

Amur tiger long-haired - The largest among tigers, an agile, very strong and hardy cat with yellowish-ochre long fur - constantly wanders in pursuit of wild boars, wapiti and roe deer. Unlike other cats, it swims well and willingly bathes. This representative of tropical nature has adapted well to our harsh winters.The weight of the predator reaches 380 kg . The tiger has no enemies among animals. Only a huge brown bear can compete with a tiger in strength. Fights between them sometimes end tragically for the tiger. The number of tigers in our region has greatly decreased, and hunting them is prohibited. Sometimes young tigers are only captured for zoos.

East Asian leopard an animal with beautiful golden-fawn-yellow fur with intense black spots. It has such a high running speed that it preys on various ungulates by “rutting”. This bird climbs trees very well and, spread out on a tree trunk, throws itself on top of its prey.

Amur forest cat - nocturnal predator, feeding on rodents and small birds.

Raccoon dog loves flat, meadow, and swampy areas with copses of broad-leaved species and close proximity to water. The food is extremely varied - mouse-like rodents, fish, frogs and snakes, small birds, nuts, vine fruits. It has valuable, beautiful, durable and warm fur, so it is almost exterminated. It is nocturnal and hibernates during the winter (December-January).

Black, or himalayan bear inferior in size to the brown bear. It has black shiny thick fur and only white spots on the chest and at the end of the lower jaw. The black bear eats mainly acorns, nuts, and berries. Excellent climbs trees and lies on hibernation into the hollows of trees.

Sika deer , young, non-ossified horns of which - antlers - are successfully used in medicine; in summer they feed on herbs, grape leaves, lespedecia, and in winter they switch to tree food. Red deer - large deer from the group of deer, whose antlers are also highly valued. From their Siberian relatives (deer)differ in slightly smaller sizes and a more simplified structure of the horns in males. Hornsare reset annually. Young neo-ossified antlers, like the antlers of sika deer, are used to prepare the medical preparation pantocrine.

East Asian wild boar - large, weighing up to 300 kg, the most important game animal. It lives in the valleys of mountain rivers, where it feeds in summer on roots and above-ground parts of grasses. In autumn, it migrates to oak forests if there is a supply of acorns. In winter it switches to feeding on pine nuts.

Goral or Amur chamois - a relict animal that lives in the mountains on steep rocky cliffs and cliffs with areas of broad-leaved forest.

Shokiya is exceptional

The number is very low. It is found in mountain cedar-broad-leaved forests in the southern and middle parts of the range. Sikhote-Alin at an altitude of 600-800 m, sometimes up to 1000 m above sea level. Butterflies are more often confined to the upper reaches of mountain springs. Summer occurs from late July to early September. Butterflies stay sedentary, but make daily migrations: in the morning they stay in the crowns of trees, and later they fly down. The caterpillars feed on the needles of Korean cedar (Pinups koraiensis). The female lays eggs one at a time per needle on cedar trees. of different ages no higher than the middle part of the crown. The caterpillars emerge 10-11 days after laying eggs, active in the evening and at night. Caterpillars overwinter on cedar branches. From early April to early - mid-June, they complete their development and pupate. The pupa develops within 19 days. It is recommended that the species be included in the lists of specially protected natural monuments of the Ussuri Nature Reserve and a widespread ban on catching butterflies.

Sericin Mongolian

Lives in the south of Primorsky Krai. The number is very low. It is found mainly in riverine biotopes, usually on the slopes of river terraces in places where the herbaceous grass plant (Aristolochia contorta) grows, the food plant for caterpillars. Butterflies give birth to two generations during the season and fly from mid-May to the end of August. The first generation is distinguished by its small size. Slow flying Male sericite are quite common in areas where kirkazon grows. Females lay eggs in groups on the underside of kirkazon leaves. Caterpillars are found in June, at the end of August - September.
It is recommended to prohibit economic use and treating the slopes of riverine terraces with insecticides in sericin habitats, as well as introducing a complete ban on catching butterflies and collecting caterpillars,

Alkina

Lives in the southwest of Primorye. Not known in other union republics. The number is very low. It is found in mountain black-fir-deciduous forests of the southern type, in those areas along rivers and streams where the caterpillars' food plant - the woody vine - Manchurian kirkazon - grows. Butterflies give two generations and fly from late May to August. Representatives of the second generation are smaller in size. Butterflies fly slowly, and females often sit in the grass. Males willingly visit kirkazon flowers and spend most of their time in the crowns of trees, where the vine blooms profusely. Females lay eggs on the leaves of kirkazon. Outside Russia, caterpillars, in addition to Kirkazon, are found on the Colombo plant.

Mother of pearl zenobia

Lives in the south of Primorsky Krai. The number is very low. It is found on rocks and rocky outcrops in mixed and deciduous forests up to an altitude of 600-700 m below sea level.

The butterflies fly from mid-July to early September, which coincides with the flowering of the snakehead multiflora, on whose flowers they usually feed. Males expel mother-of-pearls of other species from their territory. Forage plant caterpillars - variegated violet - a narrowly local species. Females lay eggs one at a time, less often two or three, on or near the food plant. After 13-15 days, caterpillars emerge from the eggs, which usually sit on the lower surface of the leaves and on the petioles. In mid-October and early November, the caterpillars go to winter and awaken in early April. Pupation occurs in mid-June.

Little Blue Scarecrow.

Lives in the south of Primorye. The number is very low. Not studied. The species probably forms small local populations. Famous finds come from valley deciduous forests. Currently not protected.

It is recommended to study the biology of the species in order to identify factors limiting its numbers and distribution. It is advisable to include the species in the lists of specially protected natural objects of the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve and introduce a complete ban on catching.

Far Eastern skink.

Found in some areas of Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories. The Far Eastern skink on Kunashir Island is confined to oak groves, the outskirts of coniferous forests, and sandy slopes with sparse vegetation. On the mainland it is found among rocks along the seashore. It feeds on spiders, centipedes, and insects.

Ussuri clawed newt.

Lives in the south of Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai. Inhabits clean mountain streams with pebble or overhanging banks, usually heavily forested. It stays in the water or under mossy stones near the water. Active at night. Reproduction lasts from late April to August. Females lay paired egg marks with 5-7 eggs in each larva and appear in early July. Puberty occurs in the third or fourth year. Saving habitat, a ban on catching animals was recently adopted for conservation purposes.

Dikusha.

Lives in the south of Primorsky Krai. Siberian grouse are characterized by significant seasonal vertical movements: in the summer the birds climb the mountains up to the belt of cedar trees, and in the winter they gather in the valleys overgrown with dark coniferous taiga. The total number is unknown. The Siberian Grouse's attachment to local areas of the dark coniferous taiga puts it in severe dependence on their condition. The impossibility of existing outside the spruce-fir plantations, if they are cut down or burned out, leads to the complete disappearance of the bird. The breeding success of the species is influenced by various factors, especially cold rainy days during the nesting and chick hatching period. One of the limiting factors should also include the greedy “gullibility” of the grouse - ability to hide very tightly on open branches. This behavioral feature allows you to get close to the bird. in modern conditions leads to the complete destruction of any developed territories. Within the range of the Siberian Grouse there are five reserves. Shooting it is prohibited everywhere. However, it should be noted that the measures taken do not allow stabilizing the population of the species. To confirm the number of grouse grouse on optimal level It is necessary to preserve its habitats. The areas where this bird still remains must be taken under strict protection.

Scaly-sided merganser

It is found along almost all rivers flowing from both slopes of the Sikhote-Alin. On the eastern slope it is known in the basin of the Kievka, Avvakumovka, Kema, and Samarga rivers. On the western slope, the large Ussurka nests along the river, common on the Bikin River. Currently, the number of the species is unknown, but over the past 15-20 years it has decreased noticeably, at least on the rivers of the Sikhote-Alin. The appearance of motor boats has increased poaching, since they can quickly overtake the fleeing brood, which was previously easily hidden from rowing boats. The cutting down of valley forests, rich in hollow trees, is very important; where they are cut down and the banks become open, scaly mergansers stop nesting. Hunting mergansers is prohibited, but this ban is not effective enough, because hunters have difficulty distinguishing scaly mergansers from large mergansers. Therefore, in the nesting areas of the first species, it is necessary to prohibit the shooting of both species. Breeding populations of scaly mergansers are protected in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve.

White-breasted or Himalayan bear.

Inhabits the Primorsky Territory and southern regions Khabarovsk Territory. Northern border The range of the white-breasted bear begins on the shores of the Japanese sea, goes to the southwest, Sikhote-Alin crosses at the sources of the Samarga River. Further, the border heads north through the middle course of the choir. In Sikhote-Alin in the summer, the bear is found in all plant associations. The winter locations of bears can be outlined with an isohypsum: 200-800 meters above sea level. Wintering grounds are concentrated in areas centered on massive watersheds. The white-breasted bear is very sensitive to the consequences of human economic activities and hunting. And that put him in a difficult position now. Deforestation of indigenous forests, especially cedar-broad-leaved forests, and forest fires are depriving white-breasted bears of their primary habitats. In the Primorsky Territory, licensed hunting for the white-breasted bear has been introduced since 1975.

Amur forest cat

The species' range includes most of the Primorsky Territory. The Amur forest cat is more often found in sparse broad-leaved forests, less often in cedar-broad-leaved forests, preferring deaf pads in bushy river valleys. Avoids dark coniferous taiga. Systematic observations of the population of the Amur forest cat over large areas have not been carried out. Amur cat not adapted to life in snowy areas, primarily due to the inability to provide the main food under these conditions - mouse-like rodents. IN recent years The reduction in areas of natural habitats is intensifying due to the cutting down of bushes, plowing of virgin lands with tall grass and burning bells. To save the Amur forest cat In addition to a complete ban on fishing and the fight against accidental catching, extensive explanatory work is needed among the population, and above all among hunters, about the importance of this predator as an exterminator of harmful rodents.

The Amur tiger has become a kind of symbol of the Primorsky Territory. More importantly, this unique cat is endangered. Primorye is home to a rare subspecies of tiger, the number of which has stabilized at a low level. Over the last century, the Amur tiger population has experienced profound and dramatic changes: in the late 30s - early 40s, when the number 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 was perhaps , has reached the level of individuals. The main factor that brought the tiger to the brink of extinction was its direct persecution by humans, which began in 1947. Legislative protection of the tiger was introduced in Russia. The most important negative factor was the increased poaching, which has increased since the early 90s. commercial in nature (skins, bones and other parts of killed tigers are sold in most countries East Asia as a valuable medicinal raw material). Currently, 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.

The Far Eastern or Amur leopard is the northernmost of all leopard subspecies. Its population is considered genetically isolated and requires measures to preserve it as a genetically unique component in the system of species diversity both in the region and in 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 leopard's weight does not exceed 80 kg. Its winter fur is thick, with bright colors: black or black-brown solid or rosette spots are scattered across the buffy-red background. The leopard walks and jumps completely silently, and its bright colors perfectly camouflage it in any season, so it is very rare to see this slender cat with soft, smooth movements.

Wild forest cat, the smallest representative of felines in the Far East. Wild cat individuals are much larger than domestic cats; older males weigh up to 10 kg. It feeds on rodents, hazel grouse, pheasants, and crushes young roe deer. It leads a hidden, nocturnal lifestyle, and spends the day in hollows, rocks, and thickets of bushes.

Brown bear, largest bear Europe and Asia, widely distributed throughout the Ussuri region, although the main part of the species’ habitat is confined to the central part of Sikhote-Alin. This animal spends most of its time in search of food, feeding mainly on plant foods. As is known, brown bears hibernate, using dens for wintering, located under the inversion of a tree or in a windfall in coniferous forests, mainly in remote, deep-snow areas of the mountains. Bears that are not well-fed enough for normal winter sleep do not hibernate. These are the so-called connecting rods, which tend to wander throughout the taiga all winter in search of any food, even the remains of wolf meals. They attack ungulates and are dangerous to humans when encountered.

The Himalayan bear, which is popularly called either white-breasted or black, is distributed only in the southern part Far East, living in deciduous forests. They are noticeably different from brown bears. Their fur is silky, black with a white spot on the chest in the shape of a flying bird. Large males weighing 200 kg are rare, and females usually weigh no more than 100 kg. Himalayan bears spend about 15% of their life among treetops, feeding on berries, acorns and nuts. For the winter they go to bed in mid-November, before the snow. Dens are located in hollows of soft trees - poplar or linden. There, in February, females will give birth to two, rarely three, blind bear cubs, weighing only 500 grams. 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.

The red wolf is listed in the Red Books of the IUCN and Russia. Even at the beginning of the twentieth century, packs of red wolves regularly appeared throughout its range in Russia, but since the 30s, every sighting of this animal has become an exceptional rarity. The disappearance of this species in the Primorye region was a catastrophic reduction in its numbers in the adjacent territory of China, from where, apparently, it spread to the territory of Russia. At the present time, the red wolf cannot be considered a permanent species of the fauna of Primorye until its reproduction in this territory is proven.

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

Ussuri sika deer. The summer coloration of these animals is very beautiful - numerous white spots are scattered across 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-area subspecies - wild and park. It is the wild populations of deer that are protected by law. Currently, aboriginal populations have survived only in the Lazovsky and Olginsky districts, mainly in Lazovsky Reserve and in the surrounding area. Deer, unlike bovids (bulls, goats and rams), change their antlers annually. In the first stages of growth, deer antlers are soft, covered with delicate skin and 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 sika deer at the beginning of the century.

In the south of the Khasansky district there is the only colony of the common longwing in Russia, 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 information that it was destroyed in connection with the recently completed demarcation of the Russian-Chinese border 13 Of the nine species of shrews, the most interesting is the very rare one, listed in The IUCN and Russian Red Data Books species is a giant shrew, which fully justifies its name: its weight reaches 15 g. This animal is so rare that not a single adult male has been caught so far, and not many zoological museums in the world can boast of having at least one specimen this shrew.

State Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education Pacific State Economic University (UF)

WILDLIFE OF PRIMORSKY TERRITORY

Ussuriysk 2010

1) Introduction

2) Species diversity

3) General characteristics of biodiversity

– Birds of Primorsky Krai

Bird migrations through the territory of Primorye

– Representatives of the order of insectivores

– Chiroptera, or bats

– Rodents

– Wild artiodactyl animals

– Representatives of the carnivorous order

- Studying terrestrial mammals

a) Animal solonetzes as a phenomenon and indicator. Adaptation of animals to the conditions of the mountain taiga Sikhote-Alin

4) Problems of wildlife protection

5) Conclusion

6) References

INTRODUCTION

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

The fauna of Primorsky Krai is different unique combination northern and southern species. The richest and most unique fauna of cedar-broad-leaved forests. Typical mammals that give color to the Ussuri forests are predators: Amur tiger, Far Eastern leopard, Amur forest cat, Himalayan bear; ungulates: sika deer, wapiti. Wolverine, wild boar, lynx, sable, otter, as well as shrews and rodents are often found.

There are 360 ​​bird species in Primorye. Among them are many endemic species of the Chinese-Himalayan type of fauna or those that have a tropical appearance and winter in the Philippines and the Sunda Islands, in India and Indochina. In the forests of Primorye, the most common insectivores are: tropical-looking flycatchers, Chinese orioles, dart frogs: woodpeckers and nuthatches; herbivores: Jankowski's bunting, black-headed grosbeak; chicken: hazel grouse, pheasant. IN river valleys and the lakes are home to scaly mergansers and variegated mandarin ducks. Rare species are the Far Eastern stork, spoonbill, dry-billed crane, and white-naped crane.

In the reservoirs of the region there are up to 100 species of fish: crucian carp, Amur pike, topgazer, snakehead, chebak, grayling, rudd, taimen. Pink salmon, chum salmon, and masu salmon enter the rivers from the Sea of ​​Japan to spawn.

SPECIES DIVERSITY

Birds	Insectivores	Chiroptera, or bats	Rodents	Wild artiodactyls	Predators
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Ussuri mogera	Tubebills	Long-tailed mouse
Fish owl	Amur hedgehog	Brown long-eared bat		Amur goral
Mandarin duck			Manchurian squirrel	Wild spotted deer
black crane			Manchurian hare		Wild cat
Red-footed ibis			Far Eastern vole		Brown bear
Far Eastern stork			Daurian hamster		Himalayan bear
Crested Shelduck
Scaly-sided merganser			Little mouse
Red-crowned crane

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BIODIVERSITY

BIRDS OF PRIMORYE

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Among the birds of the Ussuri region there is a mysterious red-bellied woodpecker - the status of which is still not clear, and not only in Russia, but throughout its breeding range, which includes some part (which one exactly - there is no consensus among Chinese ornithologists) of the province Heilongjiang in China.
Of our woodpeckers, it is the only one that is truly migratory; the wintering grounds of D. hyperythrus subrufinus are located in the extreme southeast of China and Northern Vietnam and are adjacent to the habitats of its three southern subspecies.
Its close relationship with birds of the tropics is evidenced by its bright coloring and some behavioral details. The woodpecker has a bright red chest and belly and a white ring around the eye against the background of red plumage on the sides of the head, otherwise the color of the plumage resembles that of other pileated 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 call of the red-bellied woodpecker is a long, modulating trill that increases in vibration. Drum roll, on the contrary, is very short, the shortest of all other woodpeckers of the genus Dendrocopos, but quite sonorous and can be heard 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 migratory birds were discovered on the islands of Peter the Great Bay. In the 70s, sightings of the species in the far south of Primorye became regular, but all attempts to find it here at the nesting site have so far been unsuccessful.
The discovery of the first nesting site of the red-bellied woodpecker in Russia was a complete surprise, almost 20 years after the first meeting. In 1985, it was discovered by O.P. Valchuk much further north, 60 km northeast of Khabarovsk. Since that time, the rufous-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 has expanded. And finally, in 1997, A.A. Nazarenko managed to find a new, second in Russia and first in Primorye nesting site 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-deciduous forests of low mountains and foothills with a predominance of oak and a large share of aspen in the forest stand. Probably, the species colonizes secondary cleared forests not immediately after logging, but when aspen stands reach mature age. 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 Russian Far East from northeastern China in the 60s, when the current secondary forests were formed throughout the border strip in the basins of the Ussuri and Amur rivers. The process of dispersal (or relocation) of the species apparently continues, because In China, due to increasing anthropogenic pressure, the area of ​​suitable habitats is steadily decreasing, while in Russia, on the contrary, it is increasing. We believe that next place The nesting site of the red-bellied woodpecker in Russia may be the Lesser Khingan ridge in the Jewish Autonomous Region, covered with similar forests.
The biology of the red-bellied woodpecker is still poorly studied, but it is not fundamentally different from the biology of other woodpeckers, with the exception of details determined by the migratory nature of the species.
At a working meeting of the Bird Life Internetionel coordinating committee 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 widespread and poorly studied species /Valchuk, in press/. Perhaps, as a special measure to protect the species, it would be advisable to create a reserve in the first nesting area. Collection of material on the biology of the species and study current state its population in the south of the Russian Far East continues.

Fish owl

In the Ussuri region there is an even rarer fish eagle owl. 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 in our country. Firstly, the fish owl is a long-standing representative of the Red Book. Secondly, unlike other owls, it feeds almost exclusively on fish.

In size, this owl is almost equal to the common eagle owl, but its coloring is low-contrast, monotonous, and in addition, its toes are bare, without feathers.

The fish owl spends almost all its time in one section of the river floodplain, overgrown with tall elms and poplars. Not every place is suitable for it - birds choose rivers rich in fish, as well as those that do not freeze completely in winter or have polynyas. Eagle owls feed there during the harsh season. They are sitting at open water on the shore and guard their prey. Five or six birds can gather near some wormwoods and gullies.

In summer, fish eagle owls usually look for fish from a coastal stone, from a high section of the shore, or from a tree trunk tilted over the water. As soon as the predator notices the fish, it immediately breaks away from the observation post and in flight grabs the lenok or grayling that has risen to the surface of the water. At night, he wanders through shallow riffles and snatches fish swimming by. To hold 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 eagle changes its hunting grounds, moving from one section of the river to another. I happened to see entire paths that these birds trampled while wandering along the shore.

The fish eagle owl is distinguished by unusual fidelity for owls - pairs in this species apparently remain for several years. In February, when there is snow everywhere in Primorye, the mating season of owls begins, and the valley forests are filled with the spring calls of these birds. Birds do not interfere with each other’s “singing”: their voices sound at strictly defined intervals. Usually the male starts, but after his first syllable the female seems to insert her “song” into the male’s “song”, and both birds “sing” in a duet. Unlike the common eagle owl, the fish eagle never “laughs.” Fish owls often “sing” near the nest, sitting on one branch. Their duet can be heard far away in the morning or evening dawn - it can be heard at a distance of up to one and a half kilometers from the current couple.

The unique wonder of the world is Ussuri taiga. More than 400 species of trees will grow here, including exotic ones: Mongolian oak, Korean cedar, Manchurian walnut, Amur velvet. In these parts unique collection endemic plants that are not found anywhere in the world. Among such a variety of plants live no less rare and unique animals of the Russian Far East.

This article will discuss animals living in the Far East.

General information

Animals that are typical inhabitants of the jungle have perfectly adapted to life in harsh conditions climate of the Far East. The air temperature here in winter can reach up to -45 °C, and the snow cover is 2 meters thick. Among these animals are the Amur tiger (“master of the Ussuri taiga”), leopard, white-breasted bear, sika deer, goral and harza.

Some animals of the Far East of our territory, representing the object of hunting, were settled and acclimatized across the vast expanses of Russia and the world. These include, first of all, the sika deer and the raccoon dog. But some species of animals were also brought here, for example, the muskrat and the brown hare.

Briefly about nature

Before we present information about what animals live in the Far East, we will consider some of the natural features of the region. The Far East has a unique ecosystem that combines tundra and forest. The region's territories are located in different natural zones:

• tundra;
• arctic deserts;
• coniferous forests (light coniferous, dark coniferous, coniferous-birch);
• forest-steppe;
• coniferous-deciduous forests.

In such natural zones, the climatic conditions are different, therefore the world of fauna and flora is different.

About animals of the Far East

In the most remote region of Russia with a harsh climate, a total of 80 terrestrial mammal species live, of which only 24 species are hunted. Very rare species More than half of the animal species are listed in the Red Book of Russia and the IUCN. IN Coastal waters There are 21 species of marine mammals in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and Sea of ​​Japan.

The largest animals of the Far East are tigers (Amur and Ussuri), bears (Himalayan and brown). More detailed information about them below in the article.

The animals of this region are unique and interesting.

Ussuri tiger

This is the largest cat in the world - a mighty and strong beast. An adult male reaches a weight of up to 300 kg, but such a mass does not at all prevent him from moving easily and silently through the reeds, without attracting attention, and from being an excellent hunter. The wild cat hunts wild boars, elk, deer and hares. There are cases of attacks on bears.

The female usually gives birth to 2-3 cubs, which remain next to her for up to three years, gradually learning the basics of the art of hunting.

Amur leopard

Speaking about animals of the Far East, it is impossible not to mention Amur leopard, which is recognized as the rarest cat in wildlife. This species, currently on the verge of extinction, is extremely beautiful. In total, there are now only about 30 individuals of the Amur leopard in the wild, and there are about a hundred of them in zoos.

In Korea, these amazingly beautiful leopards have been completely exterminated, in China they are found in single specimens, perhaps these are individuals coming to them from the territory of Russia. These animals are threatened by forest fires, poachers and lack of food.

Himalayan bear

Among the animals of the Far East there is also a predator - the Himalayan bear. It is much smaller in size than its relative, the brown one. The Himalayan bear is extremely beautiful - its black fur shimmers in the sun, and there is a white spot on its chest. He loves to eat nuts, acorns and roots. In winter, it hibernates inside a large hollow of a pine, cedar or oak tree. Sleep continues for five months. The female usually gives birth to cubs in February, and the cubs remain with her until next autumn.

What other animals live there?

The Far East is very rich in wildlife. Typical taiga Siberian species:

• squirrel;
• sable;
• chipmunk;
• hazel grouse and others.

Animals of Chinese and Indo-Malay origin (except those presented above):

• red wolf;
• forest cat;
• mole moger;
• Manchurian hare.

Unfortunately, the barbaric attitude towards unique nature of the Far East threatened the complete survival of some of its inhabitants. Today, serious work is underway to improve this situation.