The Meshchera lowland, or Meshchera, is a unique in beauty original region of Russian nature, perfectly preserved in its original form. The great Russian writer Konstantin Georgievich Paustovsky wrote very warmly and with great love about these places. He noted the simplicity and modesty of the cave nature, endowed with an amazing and attractive force, which you want to touch again and again.
History of the foundation of the reserve
In the southeastern part of the Meshchera, the Oka State Reserve was organized. The date of his birth is considered to be 1935. The goal of creating a conservation and research area was an attempt to preserve and increase the population of the rarest animal, the desman. This amazing animal is the same age as extinct mammoths. And already for this he deserves the title of a living natural monument.
In 1989, the Oka Reserve in the Ryazan Region was geographically expanded to create a biosphere testing ground. This is the only natural complex in Russia that complies with the strict requirements of the World Aviation Biosphere Reserve Program.
Natural characteristic of the area
The climatic conditions of the region played an important role in the formation of the flora and fauna of the Meschera. Rather cold winters, warm summers, and plentiful annual rainfall created a favorable environment for the growth of rich vegetation and the resettlement of various animals and birds.
The Meshchera lowland was formed due to the melting of glaciers, and it is an infertile sandy plain, covered with multiple forests of coniferous, deciduous and mixed types. About a fourth of the territory occupied by the Oka Reserve is dominated by water bodies - numerous lakes and low-lying marshes. Floodplain meadows have a rich variety of grasses.
Bison nursery
In 1959, the Oka Reserve granted its territory for the breeding of Caucasian-Bialowieza bison. The nursery covers an area of about two hundred hectares. During the first thirty years, two dozen of these rare animals were brought into it. For all the years of existence, about four hundred bison were born and safely grown.
Using a special adaptation technique for animals born in zoos, the gradual introduction of young bison into the natural environment is carried out. The need for this arose due to the fact that mammals born under artificial conditions are not adapted to life in the wild, which is why there is a high probability of their rapid death.
Since 1967, the Oka Reserve was also included in the world program for the resettlement of bison. Photos of these animals born in the nursery and subsequently exported from it are widely represented in the museum. Information is also provided on the locations of the new cloven-hoofed settlements. More than two hundred animals received permanent residence in the Chechen-Ingushetia, the Caucasus, in the Oryol, Bryansk, Tver regions. The settlement of young bison in Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Romania was successful.
Rare Crane Nursery
In order to restore the extinct population of the Siberian crane (Siberian Crane) in 1979, it was decided to create a bird nursery, a place for which the Oksky Nature Reserve has hospitably provided. The map of the area, located in the Museum of Nature, contains information on the location of nesting sites for Siberian Cranes and other rare cranes.
For the initial education of the parent livestock, two dozen rare breeds of cranes of seven species were brought into the nursery. In addition, crane eggs collected in the wild were supplied to the reserve. Over the years of successful work, one and a half hundred birds have been raised. A special merit of the reserve staff can be considered their ability to train young individuals to fly independently. For this purpose, hang gliders are used, from the board of which sound in the recording crane shouts calling for a young shoot.
Animal world
The fauna inhabiting the conservation area is characteristic of the center of the European part of Russia. Oka Reserve is open for the protection of populations of rare and endangered animals and birds. On a vast territory there are about six dozen species of mammals, two hundred and fifty - birds, as well as forty species of fish.
The world of predatory animals is represented by wolves, foxes, raccoon dogs, martens, ferrets, ermines, otters, weasels. In recent years, traces of a lynx and a brown bear have been noted.
Wild boars settled in the reserve back in the fifties of the last century. The number of individuals is kept constant due to the abundance of feed.
The reserve has long been inhabited by a large population of moose. Strengthening of conservation measures allowed to significantly increase the number of ungulates.
Among aquatic mammals, beavers, muskrats, minks, and otters are most common. Insectivorous fauna representatives are moles, common and small shrews, hedgehogs. A considerable number of rodents is also known - water rats, field and forest mice, garden dormouse, white hare, brown hare, flying squirrel.
Avifauna
For the territory of the Oka Reserve, covered with various forests, a settlement of settled bird species is typical : grouse, black grouse, partridge. The bird fauna is rich in predatory representatives. These are different types of hawks, kite, buzzard, beetle. There are also more rare species of predatory birds - white-tailed eagle, osprey, snake-eater, balaban falcon. It is also worth noting the numerous populations of various species of owls, owls, owls.
Due to the fact that there are very few open spaces in the reserve, small populations of the steppe eagle, golden eagle, cemetery, gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon are noted.
Special attention is paid to the black stork, which has become a kind of emblem of the Oka Reserve. The bird makes its nests in hard-to-reach and remote places, fearing predators and avoiding people.
The study of the life of birds is carried out by taking into account the various groups of birds in the conditions of their constant habitat. Ornithologists conduct registration during special studies.
Rare species
Russian desman is a relic insectivorous animal that lives only within the former USSR. The endemic is included in the Red List of Species of IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), as well as in the Red Book of Russia.
The same lists also include a giant evening party - one of the largest species of bats. Great spotted eagle, or whooper eagle, is a rare bird of prey, which requires special treatment of itself.
Thanks to the special conditions of the Oka State Natural Biosphere Reserve, the natural habitat for unique and rare animals is preserved, which allows not only to stop the extinction process, but also to contribute to the active restoration of the population size.
Museum of Nature in Brykin Bor
The Oka Reserve has a museum on its territory that contains colorful and vibrant exhibits. They represent almost all the animals of the protected area in their natural environment.
Experienced guides will tell about the history of the reserve and the successes of its work for almost eighty years. Accompanied by employees of the reserve, you can make a trip to the habitats of bison and Siberian Cranes. The most interesting moment is the feeding of animals and birds.
So that the chicks do not get used to people, the nursery employees put on special costumes that mimic an adult bird. For convenience of food, a device similar to a crane beak is put on a hand.
The bison, despite their frightening appearance, behave towards people quite peacefully. Visitors to the zoo are allowed to feed animals with apples, carrots, young pine branches. Also, everyone is allowed to take photos on the background of animals.
Location of the conservation area
Oka State Biosphere Reserve is located between the rivers Oka and Pra, occupies a total area of 55 760 ha. In the central part stands out a strictly protected area - the core. Around it is the Biosphere Testing Ground. The southeastern part of the reserve is a protected area.
Helpful information
Oka Reserve. Address: Spassky district, Ryazan region.
The nearest settlement is the village of Brykin Bor.
Schedule of the Museum of Nature: from 10 to 17 hours every day (except Monday).
Oksky Reserve: how to get there by car
- from Ryazan go along the road P123 towards Solotchi;
- after the bridge over the Oka, turn and move to Spassk-Ryazan;
- movement in the direction of the village of Izhevsk (the birthplace of K. Tsiolkovsky);
- Brykin Bor village is the final destination of the route.
The length of the entire route is 130 kilometers.