Photo tours for animals in West Altai Reserve.

“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn”

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Photo tours for bears in West Altai Reserve.

The fauna of the West Altai State Natural Reserve is typical of the mid-mountain region of the West Altai. The reserve is known as being one of the most successful nature reserves for the protection of the threatened Altai weasel. In the territory of West Altai Nature Reserve 2 species of fishes, 2 species of Amphibia, 2 species of reptiles live.
According to the latest data (Chelyshev, 2006) 147 bird species, among them rare are noted here: ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus L.), black stork (Ciconia nigra), bluestart (Luscinia cyanurus), Siberian blue robin (Luscinia cyane), Arctoa mountain finch (Leucosticte arctoa), common dotterel (Eudromias), Altai accentor (Prunella himalayana), great gray (Lanius excubitor), sparrow owl (Glaucidium passerinum), eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
52 species of mammals are also known, from them similar on a marten are widely presented: sable (Martes zibellina), common stoat (Mustela erminea), Alpine weasel (Mustela altaica), weasel (Putorius vulgaris), ferret (Mustela furo), Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica) from gruzyn are usual Altai squirrels (Sciurus), chipmunks (Tamias), Altai pika (Ochotona alpina), hill hare (Lepus timidus); North Altai zokor (Myospalax myospalax), etc.
In the reserve insects are a little studied. From day butterflies representatives of family of Sailing vessels are interesting: swallowtail (Papilio machaon), apollo (Parnassius apollo), apollo (apollo), from night - heba tiger moth (Arctia hebe), emperor moth (Latin Satumia).
In the reserve, 6 bird species are included in "Red List" of Kazakhstan: Ciconia nigra - the 3rd category (rare species) Falco cherrug - 1 category (endangered species) Falco peregrinus - 1 category (endangered species) 3. Aguila chrysaetus - the 3rd category (rare species)
4.Bubo bubo - the 2nd category (the reduced look) 6. Haliaeetus albicilla - the 2nd category (the reduced look). The fauna of West Altai Nature Reserve is typical for average mountain area of the Western Altai. Here 2 species of fishes, 4 species of Amphibia are noted and reptiles, more than 127 bird species, 52 species of mammals.
From mammals a marten figurative are most variously presented: Sable (Martes zibellina), Common stoat (Mustela erminea), Alpine weasel (Mustela altaica), Weasel (Putorius vulgaris). From hoofed animals: elk Alces alces L., Red deer (Cervus elaphus), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus).
Rather usual types are brown bear Ursus arctos L. and lynx (Lynx lynx). From rodents are usual - Altai squirrels (Sciurus), chipmunks (Tamias, Altai pika (Ochotona alpina), Hill hare (Lepus timidus). The aviafauna of the reserve is various and unique.
In the territory of the reserve are usual: field, the perepelyatnik, a buzzard, a rough legged horned owl, a wood-grouse, white and tundra partridges, is a lot of types of group of sparrow. Several bird species living in the reserve are included in "Red List" of Kazakhstan - it is a golden eagle, peregrin (Falco peregrinus), Saker falcon (Falco cherrug, Hierofalco cherrug), an eagle owl, a black stork, a sea eagle.
Data on research work on West Altai Nature Reserve (registration number and the name of a subject according to which reports are written) are given below. Birds in the reserve are the teal, big merganser, black kite, hen-harrier, quail-shooter, common buzzard, common kestrel, rough-legged horned owl, wood grouse, tundra partridge, landrail, Asiatic snipe, big turtle-dove, common cuckoo, woodpecker and many species of the sparrow class.
Some bird species dwelling in the reserve are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan such as the golden eagle, peregrine falcon, baloban, eagle owl, and black stork. Mammals include the common shrew, Altaic mole, fox, bear, glutton, sable, weasel, ermine, Siberian weasel, otter, musk-deer, maral, roe, elk, squirrel, chipmunk, common dark and red field-vole, and the Altai pika.
The West Altai Nature Reserve is the last refuge for the survival of 15 species of plants such as the Siberian Adder’s tongue, Altaic anthrax, maral root and others that are included in the Kazakhstan Red Book.

Authority:
"West Altai Nature Reserve". Bastanogova L. Ishkov E. Reserves of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2006. Under the general edition of Roman Yashchenko. The international union of conservation of IUCN - The World Conservation Union. Physiographic features (across Kerteshev, Vagapov, Yashchenko, 2001). Reserves of the USSR. Reserves of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Moscow "Thought", 1990.

Photos
Alexander Petrov.