Barsa-Kelmes nature reserve
| Barsa-Kelmes nature reserve | |||
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| Location: | Kazakhstan | ||
| Founding: | 1939 | ||
The Barsa-Kelmes nature reserve ( Russian Барсакельмесский заповедник Barsakelmeski sapowednik , Kazakh Барсакелмес қорығы Barsakelmes Qoryghy ) is a nature reserve in Kazakhstan in the Aral Sea . It protects the former Aral Sea island of Barsakelmes and also includes large areas of the now dry seabed. It now covers 106,000 hectares and is today strongly influenced by the drying up of the Aral Sea. The arid areas of the reserve are inhabited by half-donkeys , saiga antelopes and goitered gazelles .
location
Barsa-Kelmes was designated as a protected area in 1939. The reserve is located in the Aral Sea area and includes areas that were once below the water level, but are now dry. It is made up of two clusters, one around the former island of Barsakelmes and one around the former islands of Kaskakulan and Uzun-Kair. Originally it only included the former island of Barsakelmes. In 2006 the area was increased tenfold and today also includes other former islands and areas that have fallen dry. It now extends over 106,000 hectares.
vegetation
The vegetation consists mainly of dry steppes. The former sea areas now also have salty swamps and sand dunes.
Wildlife
Significant large animals of the reserve are half donkeys, crop gazelles and saiga antelopes. These ungulates were originally introduced to Barsa-Kelmes when the area was designated a protected area. In 1983, 200 saiga antelopes, 160 gazelles and 240 half donkeys lived on the island. In particular, many of the half donkeys were moved to other reserves when the capacity limit was approached. In 2008, 273 half donkeys, 170 saigas and 67 gazelles lived in the area of the protected area. Other mammal species are wolf , red fox , steppe fox , Tolai hare , gray dwarf hamster , small horse jumper , long-eared hedgehog and ground squirrel. A total of 27 species of mammals can be found in the reserve. In addition, around 175 species of birds, 22 species of reptiles and two species of amphibians live in the protected area.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c L. A. Dimeyeva, NP Ogar, Z. Alimbetova, SW Breckle: Nature Conservation in the Aral Sea Region: Barsa-Kelmes as an Example . In: Ecological Studies . tape 218 , part 3. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin / Heidelberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-642-21116-4 , p. 315–341 , doi : 10.1007 / 978-3-642-21117-1_14 .