The Red Book of Buryatia is an official document containing information on the distribution and condition of endangered and rare populations of the flora and fauna of the republic. It also contains a list of necessary measures for their restoration and protection.
Animals of the Republic of Buryatia are quite diverse. There are many inhabitants of the steppes, taiga, highlands and tundra. But many of them are rare and even to the point of extinction. Preservation of the plant world and the inhabitants of nature is the primary task of the state.
General information about the nature of Buryatia
The natural resources of Buryatia are unique both in their reserves and in diversity. The flora and fauna of Buryatia is the real wealth of the region.
The dense coniferous massifs of Siberia, the greatest mountain ranges, spacious steppes, mountain valleys with variegated vegetation, an abundance of berries and nuts - all this favors the living conditions of representatives of the diverse wildlife of Buryatia. A lot of rare and unique representatives of flora and fauna preserved today are listed in the Red Book of Buryatia. Plants and animals from this list are strictly protected by the state and the republic.
Most of the republic’s territory is occupied by mountain taiga, where pine trees (mostly), cedars, spruce, fir, larch, aspen, birch and poplar grow among the trees. Numerous shrubs grow on the slopes of the mountains. In spring, the area is decorated with blooming purple or pink rosemary (Daurian rhododendron). In the summer, mountains and forests are full of glades of colorful flowers.
A bit about climate
Climatic conditions are sharply continental, which is also more or less favorable for many animal species and vegetation in Buryatia. Winters are frosty, long, with little snow and almost windless. Only the coast of Lake Baikal is an exception, since the enormous water mass of this largest natural reservoir has a mitigating effect.
In January, the average temperature is -25 Celsius. Relatively short summers are warm, sometimes hot. In July, the average temperature is +18 , but sometimes it also reaches + 35-40-degree heat. Off the coast of Lake Baikal summer is usually cooler. The highest rainfall for the year is about 300 mm, in the mountains this value is 500 mm.
Fauna of the republic
Among the animals of Buryatia, the following representatives are world-famous: brown bear, Barguzin sable, wild reindeer, mountain goat, snow leopard. Representatives of the diverse wildlife of the republic: elk, red deer, lynx, squirrel, roe deer, wolverine, wild boar, musk deer, Baikal seal, omul, representatives of numerous species of birds.
To date, 446 species have been recorded among terrestrial vertebrates in Buryatia. Amphibians are represented by 2 orders and 6 species. In total there are 7 species of reptiles of one detachment (this is only 0.1% of the entire world fauna of reptiles). The latter is explained by the following factors: harsh climate, a small number of places suitable for living (this determines the uneven distribution of reptiles and amphibians over the territory). They live in small, isolated from each other territories, therefore they become vulnerable from many factors.
Constantly in the republic there are quantitative and qualitative changes. New species of birds began to appear, for example, in the last 20 years, gray and common starlings began to nest in these places, and also expanded their habitat for the gray pigeon, rook and Mongolian gerbil. There are also endangered species - the great cormorant, dzeren, bustard, whooper swan, etc. are almost no longer found.
Animals of Buryatia, listed in the Red Book are included in the Red Book of Siberia - these are 40 species of terrestrial vertebrates. Of these, 7 species are on the lists and the international Red Book.
The richest class of terrestrial vertebrates in Buryatia are birds, which include 348 species (18 orders), which is approximately 4% of the entire world avifauna.
Red Book
This is an official publication intended for both professionals and ordinary readers.
The first volume is a list of currently endangered and rare mushrooms and plants of Buryatia. It includes 156 vascular plant species, 37 - bryophytes, 34 - lichens and 26 species of mushrooms.
The second volume is a list of animals. This included 23 species of mammals, 75 species of birds, 5 species of reptiles, amphibians - 2 species, 6 species of fish, 31 species of insects, 1 species of annelids and 15 species of amphipods.
Animals of the Red Book of Buryatia
The list includes the following types:
- Dzeren (a kind of antelope).
- Snow Leopard (or Irbis).
- Reindeer.
- Big tubonos.
- Siberian mountain goat.
- Steppe night light.
- Daurian hedgehog.
- River otter.
- Amur nightlight.
- The night lamp of Ikonnikov.
- Jerboa jumper.
- May vole.
- Long-tailed hamster.
- Amur Lemming.
- Campbell's hamster.
- Korsak.
- Altai mole.
- Tolai hare.
- Kamchatka Groundhog (or Black-Capped).
- Manul
- Manchurian shrew.
- Red Wolf.
- Arkhar (Argali).
A more detailed description of some animals of the Red Book of Buryatia is presented below.
Manul
Throughout the world, the status of this animal species is rated as declining in number and rare. Prefers manul to live in forest-steppe regions with numerous placers of stones. The main distribution area of this animal of Buryatia within the republic is Kyakhtinsky, Selenginsky and Dzhidinsky districts.
Their main food is ordinary field mice. Manul is a food competitor to the fox, and therefore, their habitats are the same because of the same food supply. By nature, this little animal is secretive. The reasons for its decline are hunting for them, trapping, death from dogs, steppe fires, etc.
Reindeer
In the Eastern Sayan Mountains, in the mountain tundra, you can meet beautiful, large, light, and sometimes white reindeer.
They feed on shrubs, lichens, herbs and mushrooms. In mountainous areas, representatives of this animal species are very rare today. Only about 155 individuals survived in Buryatia, which is 6.8% of the total number of species. Now there is the question of banning its fishing in the entire Severobaikalsky region.
Red Wolf
Rare animals of Buryatia include a rather large and relatively beautiful beast. The appearance of this predator combines the features of a fox, a wolf and a jackal. Its distinctive feature from the wolf is its bright red color, long tail, almost reaching the ground and fluffy, thick coat. And his face is more shortened and pointed. Big ears on the head set high.
In total, there are 10 subspecies of this species, of which only two are found in Russia. Red wolves usually settle in rocky areas, teeming with various caves, niches and grottoes.
Siberian mountain goat
Among the animals of Buryatia, listed in the Red Book, and the Siberian mountain goat. This animal, like other Asian species on its front legs, has marks that are not found in mountain alpine goats. The Siberian goat also has corn on the joints of the wrists of the front legs (for lifting on the slopes) and on the knees.
This species of mountain goats has a rather impressive list of enemies: lynxes, snow leopards, wolves. Old males are especially vulnerable to these predators.
The length of the horns in adult males can reach up to 152 cm or more.
Hare
Among the rare animals of Buryatia, this cute hare is a small animal of the family Hare. This is one of the largest species with an adult body length of 45-65 cm.
The largest hare was recorded in Western Siberia (74 cm - body length, with a weight of 5.5 kg). This species has a more elongated torso, small front feet and larger hind, not very long ears.
The hare got its name because of the white color of the fur in winter. In the snow, it can only be found by dark eyes, the tips of the ears and nose. In summer, his fur is painted in a reddish-gray color, which also helps the animal disguise well.
Snow Leopard
In total, snow leopards (snow leopards) in Buryatia were about 30 individuals. According to the category of extinction, this predator in the Red Book takes 1st place.
This animal of Buryatia has rather large dimensions: body length - about 130 cm, tail length - 90 cm (3/4 of body length), height at the withers - about 60 cm, weight - 40 kg. His legs are relatively short, his ears are small. The fur is brown in color with dark annular large spots scattered throughout the body.
Argar
This largest of the 10 subspecies of argali, besides Tyva, also lives in Altai in Russia. Abroad, they are only in Mongolia. Most likely, this is a single habitat of the subspecies - roaming, animals cross the border from Buryatia to Mongolia and vice versa.
These are very large, well-proportioned, proportionately folded animals. Males in height at the withers reach 122 cm, and females - 114 cm. Their weight is 200 and 103 kg, respectively. Both sexes have horns. Old males can wear impressive horns - up to 151 cm in length. A thick and dense hairline can have a brownish-brown and light gray-reddish color. The back of the body at the tail and belly is painted in lighter tones - whitish-yellow, and sometimes almost white. In the summer, their coat color is brighter - brown-red.
River otter
Among the animals of the Red Book of Buryatia and a resident of rivers and small rivers.
This is the largest representative of the family with a body length of 127 cm in males and 109 cm in females. A flexible body is streamlined and elongated in shape. Powerful tail wider at the base. The fur is dense and thick. The upper part of the body is painted in a brownish color, which on the throat and belly turns into grayish-silver shades.
The animal lives in rivers with fast cold water, with rapids and rifts, with steep banks and rich in fish (taimen, lenok, grayling). You can meet him on rivers with a slow course, and even on lakes. Lifestyle - semi-aquatic, secretive.
Conclusion
The animals of Buryatia are unique and diverse. Projects to preserve the number and diversity of flora and fauna carry one goal - the preservation of the wealth of local nature. In Buryatia, numerous specially protected areas have been created to restore and preserve natural landscapes, varieties of animals and plants. Today, many protected zones or districts are created with their own charters of economic activity.
The natural reserve fund of the republic includes the following types of zones specially protected by the state: natural monuments, national parks, reserves, state reserves.