Caucasus nature reserve
The Caucasus Nature Reserve ( Russian Кавка́зский запове́дник / Kawkasski sapowednik ) is a nature reserve in the northwest of the Caucasus northeast of the city of Sochi ( Russia ). The protected area covers a total area of 2,633 square kilometers and, thanks to its diverse habitats, is home to a large number of different animal and plant species. The highest mountains of the reserve are the Tschugusch ( 3240 m ) and the Smidowitsch ( 3360 m ). In the southwest, the 1,937 square kilometer Sochier National Park borders the reserve.
The vegetation ranges from subtropical forests to high alpine landscapes. The reintroduced bison is one of the large mammals in the reserve . Other noticeable species are Maral red deer , roe deer , chamois , West Caucasian ibex , wild boar , brown bear , wolf and lynx . There are almost 200 species of birds in the reserve. Among them are griffon vulture , Caucasian grouse and Caucasian Snowcock particularly striking. The diversity of large animals, which is unique in Europe, is threatened by poaching. For example, the number of chamois and ibex fell by 50% and 60% respectively in the 1990s due to illegal hunting. The number of bison on the highland line fell from 368 animals in 1993 to only 66 at times. By 2008 the bison population had increased again to around 400 animals. A project carried out by WWF and the Russian government is pursuing the reintroduction of the leopard in the western Caucasus, which is only found sporadically in the eastern Caucasus. For this purpose, Persian leopards from Turkmenistan were brought into large outdoor enclosures in the Caucasus. Their offspring are to be released there.
The management of the nature reserve is located in the Adler district of Sochi, where the 2014 Winter Olympics took place. The border of the area runs not far from the winter sports resort Krasnaya Polyana , around which many of the competition venues were built. Conservationists warned of negative effects on the condition of the nature reserve through the games and the way the further development of tourism associated with them.
swell
- ↑ Taras P. Sipko: European bison in Russia - past, present and future. European Bison Conservation Newsletter Vol 2 (2009) pp. 148–159, online PDF ( memento of the original from February 1, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ In Sochi there is a threat of huge environmental damage on the NABU website , July 3, 2007
literature
- William Riley, Laura Riley: Nature's Strongholds. The World's Great Wildlife Reserves . University Press, Princeton 2005, ISBN 0-691-12219-9 (English).
Web links
- Kavkazsky Zapovednik at Wild Russia
- WWF: Turkmen Leopards for the West Caucasus
Coordinates: 43 ° 51 ' N , 40 ° 21' E