Russia's forests make up a significant share of all (more than 8 million km² of mixed forests are home to rare animals such as tigers, bears and leopards). The remaining areas range from semi-deserts to cold tundra, from snowy mountain peaks to green meadows. The Himalayas and other mountain ranges shield Russia from warmer southern regions, giving much of the country a temperate to subarctic climate with snowy winters, but summers can be surprisingly hot. The eastern regions of Russia experience the harshest winters, but at the same time they are the most biologically diverse.

This article is a list, description and photo of animals living in Russia, structured by groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and fish).

Brown bear

A wild boar

Wild boars are common in oak, beech and mixed forests of Europe, Asia and North Africa. These large, bristly mammals are the ancestors of domestic pigs, which were domesticated by humans several thousand years ago.

Eurasian lynx

It is the third largest predator in Europe after the brown bear and gray wolf, and the largest of the four species in the lynx genus. It is an extremely efficient hunter, using its sense of smell, stealth, and powerful paws and jaws to bring down prey several times its own size and then deliver a fatal bite to the victim's neck. In winter, the fur of the common lynx is longer and denser. Large paws covered with fur allow them to move quickly through deep snow.

European beaver

European beavers have literally been revived after almost complete extinction. These large rodents were almost completely extinct in Europe and Asia until the early 20th century, when wild numbers numbered about 1,000. Beavers were highly valued for their fur and beaver stream, which they use to mark territory and communicate. Beaver reintroduction and protection programs have helped save the species from extinction.

In addition to the beaver, the order of rodents on the territory of Russia is represented by the following animals: arctic ground squirrel, water vole, red squirrel, hazel dormouse, field mouse, vole, gray rat, etc.

Hedgehog

The common hedgehog is a small, spine-covered mammal from the hedgehog family. Young hedgehogs are born with soft needles hidden under the skin; a full cover of needles appears at 2 weeks of age. Hedgehogs are not picky when it comes to food: worms, slugs, frogs, insects, bird eggs and even small mammals are included in the main diet of these cute animals. When threatened, hedgehogs curl up into a ball, which provides prickly protection from predators.

In addition to the common hedgehog, another member of the hedgehog family is found on the territory of Russia - the long-eared hedgehog. They are faster and more aggressive than their brothers. Their long ears provide acute hearing that helps them detect the presence of predators and prey early.

Brown hare

The brown hare is one of the largest species of the hare family. They use their powerful hind legs to avoid predators (hares are known to reach speeds of up to 72 km/h). The brown hare is widespread throughout the European part of Russia and some southern regions of the country.

forest cat

One of the ancestors of domestic cats, the forest cat is believed to be the most widespread feline species throughout its geographic range, which extends from Western Europe to India. Human encroachment on their habitat and interbreeding with domestic cats have reduced the number of forest cats. The diet of these mammals mainly consists of rodents, but they also prey on larger mammals, birds, lizards, frogs and fish. Sometimes they bury their prey so that they can return to it later.

Fox

Foxes have surpassed gray wolves as the most common mammal in the wild. Distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, foxes adapt well and occupy new territories in deserts and tundras, and even urban areas. They live in family groups and have a varied diet, including small mammals, fruit, carrion and the contents of garbage cans. Foxes have excellent vision, smell and touch, which also plays an important role in the process of adaptation to various habitats.

Walrus

Walruses are famous for their tusks and are the only pinnipeds (true seals, eared seals and walruses) to have them. The canines are capable of growing up to 1 m in length, and males tend to have larger canines than females. The tusks are used to support breathing holes in the ice and fights, and also help walruses pull their bulky carcasses out of the water onto slippery ice.

Common mole

The common mole is a hard-working digger and can create 20 meter tunnels in a single day. Large chambers inside the tunnel system are covered with dry grass and are used for nesting and resting. The mole's diet mainly consists of earthworms, although it does not refuse other invertebrates, as well as snakes and lizards. Common moles live in deciduous forests, pastures and farmland - wherever the soil is deep enough for tunneling.

Common arctic fox

Lives in the most extreme conditions on the planet. This animal is perfectly adapted to living in the cold: it has the best insulating fur in the entire animal kingdom and increased blood circulation to its paws, which help it survive at temperatures below -50º C. Populations of common arctic foxes are directly dependent on the presence of lemmings, which form the basis of their diet.

Saiga

Saigas are strange-looking antelopes with a large trunk-like nose that allows them to survive in the extreme conditions of their habitat. Large pouches in the nose help extract valuable moisture from the exhaled air, as well as warm the cold air inhaled.

Reindeer

Reindeer is a species from the deer family, widespread in the northern latitudes of the planet. Thanks to their warm, insulating coat of fur and large hooves, reindeer are among the best adapted animals to live in the harsh conditions of the Arctic. This is the only deer species that has antlers on both males and females.

In Russia, such species from the deer family as red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, muntak, sika deer, etc. also live.

Gray wolf

Gray wolves have long been unable to claim the title of the most widespread mammal after humans. Unfortunately, they lost most of their former lands. However, gray wolves still occupy a range of habitats, including arctic tundra, prairie and forest.

Wolf cubs are born completely dependent on their mothers, the pack, warmth and food, but already at the age of about one year, they take part in group hunting for large prey (deer, bison, etc.).

Seal

The harbor seal is the most common species of the true seal family. Inhabits the coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Baltic and North seas. As a rule, these are solitary animals that gather in small groups on rocky shores and beaches for breeding and molting. The harbor seal does not chew its food, but simply tears it into pieces or even swallows it whole.

The following members of the true seal family also live in the coastal waters of Russia: long-snouted seal, ringed seal, Baikal seal, etc.

Birds

More than 700 species (about 500 are nesting) of birds are found in Russia, or 7% of the world diversity of species of this class of animals.

Common cuckoo

They are large migratory birds that often fly in large V-shaped wedges. The whooper swan has a larger body than the little swan, and unlike the mute swan, it has a lemon rather than red-orange beak color. All three of the above-mentioned species of swans are found in Russia.

mountain goose

Due to physiological and biochemical adaptations, bar-headed geese are able to reach extreme altitudes (where oxygen levels and temperatures are very low) while migrating through the Himalayas. Surprisingly, these geese fly higher than Mount Everest (8848 m), which makes them the record holders for the highest flight altitude among birds.

Brent goose

The brant goose is a small member of the Anseriformes family, with a short beak and tail. The black color of the head and neck is diluted by two small white spots at the base of the head.

Other representatives of the genus of goose found in Russia include the following species: barnacle goose, little Canada goose and red-breasted goose.

Rock pigeon

The rock pigeon is a domesticated species of pigeon that has returned to life in wild or semi-wild conditions. Some of them were domesticated for food, others as carrier pigeons, and others for their beautiful plumage. Wild pigeons typically feed on seeds, but their diet has been diversified by people feeding pigeons in city parks.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

The spotted woodpecker is the most common and numerous representative of the woodpecker family in Russia. Their range covers almost the entire country, from Great Britain in the west to Japan in the east, reaching North Africa and the Canary Islands in the southwest.

Sparrowhawk

These birds got their name because of their food preferences. Their diet consists of 98% other birds. They are small carnivorous birds with short, wide wings and a long tail.

The following species from the subfamily of hawks also live on the territory of the country: goshawk, short-toed hawk, European hawk, Japanese sparrowhawk, etc.

Common pheasant

Pheasants are one of the most colorful birds in Russia. They are distributed throughout Western Europe, Central Asia and China. The diet of the common pheasant consists of seeds, berries and insects. The preferred habitat is wooded agricultural lowlands, which can provide shelter and food.

Black grouse

Like their close relatives, the wood grouse, male grouse have impressive, glossy black plumage. These are fairly common birds that prefer wooded areas bordering open spaces.

Finch

The finch is one of the most numerous bird species in Europe. These are small songbirds, with the males' characteristic rufous-brown cheeks and breast, as well as a blue-gray nape; both sexes have distinctive white spots on their wings.

Bullfinch

Bullfinches are small, plump, colorful birds with a bright pink-red breast and cheeks, white undertail and short beak. Usually, they unite in pairs or small family groups, with the exception of the spring period, when they gather in flocks of 50 or more individuals. Bullfinches are widespread throughout Europe and Asia.

Owl

Eagle owls are one of the largest owl species in the world. They are easily identified due to their long body length (56-75 cm), ear-like tufts on the head and bright orange eyes. They are found in various habitats throughout most of the country.

Gray crane

The most widespread species of cranes with a breeding range from Western Europe to Siberia. These are large birds with gray-bluish plumage, black flight feathers, light beaks and dark legs.

Other types of cranes living in the Russian Federation: sandhill crane, Japanese crane, white crane, black crane and white-naped crane.

In addition to the above birds, Russia serves as a home or temporary refuge for the following species: honey buzzard, ptarmigan, Steller's sea eagle, golden eagle, short-eared owl, marsh harrier, great bittern, great grebe, great gray owl, bearded vulture, water rail, raven, capercaillie, blue kingfisher , House Owl, Bustard, Green Woodpecker, Moorhen, Spruce Crossbill, Nightjar, Wren, Gyrfalcon, Blue Tit, Wood Accentor, Coot, Mandarin Duck, Sea Gull, Muscovy, Common Dove, Common Kestrel, Common Goldeneye, Common Harrier, Common Starling, dipper, spectacled eider, tree sparrow, arctic tern, fieldfare, peregrine falcon, buzzard, hooded crow, tawny owl, gray heron, osprey, whiskered tit, long-eared owl, hobby hobby, black-headed warbler, black-throated loon, black-billed loon, black-necked grebe, black swift and others.

Reptiles

About 70 species of reptiles live in the vast expanses of the Russian Federation. Below is a list of the most common representatives of this class.

Common viper

One of the country's most numerous venomous snakes, the common viper uses its venom to immobilize prey such as lizards, amphibians, birds and small mammals. Although its venom poses little danger to a healthy adult, the bite is very painful and requires emergency medical attention. The common viper's range extends further north than any other snake and is the only species found inside the Arctic Circle.

Viviparous lizard

Viviparous lizards are capable of both laying eggs (in warm climates) and giving birth to live young (in cold climates). Their range extends throughout Northern Asia, Central and Northern Europe. These lizards are good underwater swimmers and can also shed their tails to deceive predators. At night, viviparous lizards take refuge under logs, stones and metal sheets. They winter from October to March, usually in groups formed during warm periods.

Common snake

Widespread not only in Russia, but throughout Europe, common snakes are usually found near water, where there is shelter, food and warm morning sun. They hibernate during the cold winter months. These are quite large reptiles, with a body length of up to 2 meters. The diet of the common grass snake consists of frogs, small mammals and fish.

Brittle spindle

A species of legless lizards that looks like snakes. One way to identify brittle spindle is to see if it has eyelids. Lizards, unlike snakes, have hard eyelids.

Common copperhead

Although the copperhead is harmless to humans, reptiles and small mammals have some concerns. Like boa constrictors, copperheads hold and kill their prey by coiling themselves around it. They overwinter in groups, and after leaving their shelters, males fight for females. They push their opponents to the ground and wrap themselves around each other until one refuses to compete any further.

Amphibians

About 30 species of amphibians have been recorded in Russia, which is less than 1% of the world's diversity.

Common toad

These toads secrete small amounts of toxins to protect them from most predators, although the poison does not stop snakes and hedgehogs. If they are lucky enough to avoid voracious predators, common toads can live up to 40 years.

lake frog

Lake frogs spend all their time directly in the water, or at a distance of several jumps from the reservoir. They are good swimmers and jumpers, often just standing in the mud, ready to jump into the water at the first sign of danger.

Crested newt

A relatively large species of newt. Females are larger than males and can reach 16 cm in length. Crested newts have gray-brown backs and sides, and are almost entirely covered in dark spots. Males are distinguished from females by the presence of a serrated crest during the breeding season.

Siberian salamander

The Siberian salamander is the only amphibian species found within the Arctic Circle. This unique amphibian is capable of replacing water inside the body with glycerol, which allows it to survive long periods of hibernation at temperatures below -35° C.

Fish

There are about 400 species of fish in the country's fresh waters; taking into account marine fish living in the coastal zone there are about 3000 species.

Three-spined stickleback

The threespined stickleback is a fish species that is native to most inland and coastal waters north of 30° north latitude. Most populations are anadromous (they live in seawater but breed in fresh or saltwater) and are highly adaptable to changes in water salinity.

Brown trout

Brown trout begin their life cycle feeding on small invertebrates, but later some individuals may switch to fish. The large predatory fish are sometimes called spiny trout, and were even once thought to be different species. Sea trout and river trout are also the same species, but the marine population spends most of its life at sea and migrates to rivers to spawn.

Red salmon

Sockeye salmon live in the North Pacific Ocean but breed in fresh water. They return to the freshwater systems where they were born between June and July. During spawning, each female lays about 2,000 eggs, and soon after spawning, both males and females die. The newly born generation remains in its native body of water for up to 2 years, and then goes to the ocean. There are also populations of sockeye salmon that always live in fresh waters, although they have access to deep water.

Insects

On the territory of Russia there are from 70 to 100 thousand species of insects.

bumblebees

Vital pollinators of crops and wildflowers, bumblebees are especially effective on tomatoes, as their buzzing frequency encourages the release of more pollen. All bumblebees form small colonies, visiting flowers within a 2 km radius to feed on nectar and collect pollen. Typically, only the queen survives the winter, so bumblebees do not need significant honey supplies.

Common wasp

Common wasps are easily recognized by their yellow and black stripes. They are social insects and live in underground nests. Wasps do not build their own nests, but choose existing ones, for example, in an abandoned animal hole, a corner of a garden house or an attic.

Honey bee

European honeybees have been introduced by humans to almost every part of the world, but are believed to be native to India. Insect colonies can exist for many years. The bees live on collected supplies and huddle in large clusters during cold winter weather.

Forest ants

Wood ants are usually found in places where there is a lot of dead wood for nest building. However, some prefer to live in open spaces. Their distinctive mounds provide protection from predators and the elements, and provide a safe and convenient place for eggs to incubate. Wood ants are very social insects, living in colonies of up to one and a half million individuals, most of which are females.

Cabbage (butterfly)

These butterflies are common in gardens and other flowering places where they do no harm. However, their caterpillars are capable of causing damage to vegetable gardens and farms, so quickly they gnaw cabbage down to the very head.

Arachnids

About 10 thousand species of arachnids are found in Russia.

Crab spiders

Crab spiders do not spin webs to catch their prey. Instead, they rely on camouflage and set up an ambush. These colorful spiders blend into the surrounding vegetation, where they lie in wait for unsuspecting victims. Some species can even change color, masquerading as a leaf or flower.

Scorpios

Scorpions were among the first animals to adapt to life on land, 420 million years ago. They are the oldest arachnids found in fossils. Scorpions are especially recognizable by their large, powerful claws, which are necessary for capturing prey. The famous stinging tail contains a pair of venom glands and is used to paralyze its prey. About 2,000 species have been described, living on all continents except Antarctica.

Orb-weaving spiders

Orb weavers weave classic round webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. Their wheel-shaped networks are made up of concentric circles with spokes radiating out from the center and can be about a meter wide. A beautiful large colored abdomen and a small head are observed in females of most species. Males tend to be smaller, do not spin webs, and spend most of their time wandering in search of a mate.

Jumping spiders

There are about 5,000 species in the jumping spider family, they are widespread throughout the planet and have even been found on Everest. They are active hunters with excellent eyesight and do not use webs to catch their prey.

Hunter bordered

These spiders use the surface of the water in a way that other spiders use their webs. Ripples from insects on the surface of the water are caught by the numerous hairs on the spider's legs. Short, velvety, water-repellent hairs covering the body and legs help walk on water. Spiders quickly glide across the surface of a pond and attack their prey.

animal kingdom very diverse, it is the most numerous, with about 2 million species. Animals vary in size and body shape: this is the blue whale, whose mass reaches 150 thousand tons, and microscopic unicellular.

Despite the differences in shapes and sizes, all animals have common characteristics - the ability to eat, breathe, grow, develop, etc. - like other living organisms, but animals also have special characteristics that are not characteristic of other organisms.

Animals have the following differences from plants and:

They feed on ready-made organic matter;
Not capable of photosynthesis;
The vast majority of animals are capable of moving and performing various active movements;
Most animals have: digestive, respiratory, nervous, excretory, musculoskeletal.
Animals are also multicellular. They form the largest group of living organisms on the planet, with more than 1.5 million living species. One of the most important features of their organization is the morphological and functional difference between body cells. During the process, division occurred between the cells, which allowed them to perform their functions more efficiently. Different tissues combined into organs, and organs into corresponding organ systems. To implement the relationship between them and coordinate their work, regulatory systems were formed - nervous and endocrine. By controlling the activities of all systems, a multicellular organism works as a single whole.

Multicellular animals have larger sizes. To provide nutrients, they develop a digestive canal, which allows them to swallow large food particles that supply large amounts of energy. To break them down, digestive glands appear that secrete enzymes. The developed musculoskeletal system ensured the maintenance of a certain body shape, protection and support for organs, as well as the active movement of a multicellular animal in space. Thanks to this ability, animals were able to search for food, find shelter and settle.

With the increase in the size of the body, the need arose for the emergence of systems that act as the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cells and tissues remote from the digestive canal and the surface of the body, as well as removing metabolic products from them. This is how the circulatory, respiratory and excretory systems arise.

The main transport function began to be played by liquid – blood. The intensification of respiratory activity went in parallel with the progressive development of the nervous system and sensory organs. The central sections of the nervous system moved to the anterior end of the body, resulting in the separation of the head section. This body structure allowed animals to receive information about changes in the environment and respond adequately to them. Multicellular animals reproduce mainly sexually, while primitive multicellular animals reproduce vegetatively and asexually. In some animals, parthenogenesis (same-sex, virgin reproduction) occurs.

Based on the absence or presence of an internal skeleton, animals are divided into two groups: invertebrates and. Multicellular animals are usually characterized by symmetry in their body structure. In coelenterates, symmetry is radial, bilateral symmetry allows animals to actively move in a straight line, maintaining balance, and turn right and left with equal ease.

The most highly organized animals are birds and mammals.

The science of classifying animals is called systematics or taxonomy. This science determines family relationships between organisms. The degree of relationship is not always determined by external similarity. For example, marsupial mice are very similar to ordinary mice, and tupai are very similar to squirrels. However, these animals belong to different orders. But armadillos, anteaters and sloths, completely different from each other, are united into one squad. The fact is that family ties between animals are determined by their origin. By studying the skeletal structure and dental system of animals, scientists determine which animals are closest to each other, and paleontological finds of ancient extinct species of animals help to more accurately establish family ties between their descendants. Plays a major role in the taxonomy of animals genetics- the science of the laws of heredity.

The first mammals appeared on Earth about 200 million years ago, separating from animal-like reptiles. The historical path of development of the animal world is called evolution. During evolution, natural selection occurred - only those animals survived that were able to adapt to environmental conditions. Mammals have evolved in different directions, forming many species. It happened that animals that had a common ancestor at some stage began to live in different conditions and acquired different skills in the struggle for survival. Their appearance was transformed, and changes useful for the survival of the species were consolidated from generation to generation. Animals whose ancestors looked the same relatively recently began to differ greatly from each other over time. Conversely, species that had different ancestors and went through different evolutionary paths sometimes find themselves in the same conditions and, changing, become similar. Thus, species unrelated to each other acquire common features, and only science can trace their history.

Classification of the animal world

The living nature of the Earth is divided into five kingdoms: bacteria, protozoa, fungi, plants and animals. Kingdoms, in turn, are divided into types. Exists 10 types animals: sponges, bryozoans, flatworms, roundworms, annelids, coelenterates, arthropods, molluscs, echinoderms and chordates. Chordates are the most progressive type of animals. They are united by the presence of a notochord, the primary skeletal axis. The most highly developed chordates are grouped into the vertebrate subphylum. Their notochord is transformed into a spine.

Kingdoms

Types are divided into classes. Total exists 5 classes of vertebrates: fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles (reptiles) and mammals (animals). Mammals are the most highly organized animals of all vertebrates. What all mammals have in common is that they feed their young with milk.

The class of mammals is divided into subclasses: oviparous and viviparous. Oviparous mammals reproduce by laying eggs, like reptiles or birds, but feed their young with milk. Viviparous mammals are divided into infraclasses: marsupials and placentals. Marsupials give birth to underdeveloped young, which are carried to term in the mother's brood pouch for a long time. In placentals, the embryo develops in the mother's womb and is born already formed. Placental mammals have a special organ - the placenta, which carries out the exchange of substances between the maternal body and the embryo during intrauterine development. Marsupials and oviparous animals do not have a placenta.

Types of animals

Classes are divided into squads. Total exists 20 orders of mammals. In the oviparous subclass there is one order: monotremes, in the marsupial infraclass there is one order: marsupials, in the placental infraclass there are 18 orders: odontates, insectivores, woolly wings, chiropterans, primates, carnivores, pinnipeds, cetaceans, sirenians, proboscideans, hyraxes, aardvarks, artiodactyls, Callopods, lizards, rodents and lagomorphs.

Mammal class

Some scientists distinguish the independent order Tupaya from the order of primates, from the order of insectivores they separate the order Jumpers, and the predators and pinnipeds are combined into one order. Each order is divided into families, families into genera, and genera into species. In total, about 4,000 species of mammals currently live on earth. Each individual animal is called an individual.

SLITTOOTH is a mammal from the order of insectivores, divided into two main species: the Cuban slittooth and the Haitian. The animal is relatively large compared to other types of insectivores: its length is 32 centimeters, its tail is on average 25 cm, the weight of the animal is about 1 kilogram, and its body is dense.

MANED WOLF. Lives in South America. The long legs of the wolf are the result of evolution in matters of adaptation to the habitat; they help the animal to overcome obstacles in the form of tall grass growing on the plains.

The AFRICAN CIVET is the only representative of the genus of the same name. These animals live in Africa in open spaces with high grass from Senegal to Somalia, southern Namibia and in the eastern regions of South Africa. The size of the animal can visually increase quite significantly when the civet raises its fur when excited. And her fur is thick and long, especially on the back closer to the tail. The paws, muzzle and tail end are completely black, most of the body is spotted.

MUSKRAT. The animal is quite famous due to its sonorous name. It's just a good photo.
mammal of the mole family of the order of insectivores. One of two species of the subfamily Desmaninae, sometimes recognized as a family; the second species is the Pyrenean muskrat.

PROHIDNA. This miracle of nature usually weighs up to 10 kg, although larger specimens have also been observed. By the way, the length of the echidna’s body reaches 77 cm, and this is not counting their cute five to seven centimeter tail. Any description of this animal is based on comparison with the echidna: the legs of the echidna are higher, the claws are more powerful. Another feature of the echidna’s appearance is the spurs on the hind legs of males and the five-fingered hind limbs and three-fingered forelimbs.

CAPIBARA. Semi-aquatic mammal, the largest of modern rodents. It is the only representative of the capybara family (Hydrochoeridae). There is a dwarf variety, Hydrochoerus isthmius, which is sometimes considered as a separate species (lesser capybara).

SEA CUCUMBER. HOLOTHURIA. Sea capsules, sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea), a class of invertebrate animals such as echinoderms. Species eaten as food are commonly known as sea cucumbers.

PANGOLIN. This post simply could not do without him.
A distinctive feature of lizards is that their entire body, with the exception of the lower half of the muzzle, throat, belly and inner surface of the limbs, is covered with hard scales attached to the skin at the front and freely overlapping each other like tiles. These scales are of dermal origin. Their color varies from dark olive and brown to yellow. Where there are no scales, the skin of lizards is covered with sparse hair.

HELL VAMPIRE. Mollusk. Despite its obvious similarity with octopus and squid, scientists have identified this mollusk as a separate order Vampyromorphida (lat.), because it is characterized by retractable sensitive whip-shaped filaments.

AARDVARK. In Africa, these mammals are called aardvark, which translated into Russian means “earthen pig.” In fact, the aardvark is very similar in appearance to a pig, only with an elongated snout. The structure of the ears of this amazing animal is very similar to that of a hare. There is also a muscular tail, which is very similar to the tail of an animal such as a kangaroo.

JAPANESE GIANT SALAMANDER. Today, it is the largest amphibian, which can reach 160 cm in length, weigh up to 180 kg and can live up to 150 years, although the officially recorded maximum age of the giant salamander is 55 years.

BEARDED PIG. In different sources, the Bearded Pig species is divided into two or three subspecies. These are the curly bearded pig (Sus barbatus oi), which lives on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra, the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus barbatus) and the Palawan bearded pig, which live, as the name suggests, on the islands of Borneo and Palawan, as well as on Java , Kalimantan and small islands of the Indonesian archipelago in Southeast Asia.

SUMATRAN RHINO. They belong to the odd-toed ungulates of the rhinoceros family. This type of rhinoceros is the smallest of the entire family. The body length of an adult Sumatran rhinoceros can reach 200 - 280 cm, and the height at the withers can vary from 100 to 150 cm. Such rhinoceroses can weigh up to 1000 kg.

SULAVESI BEAR COUSCUS. An arboreal marsupial living in the upper layer of lowland tropical forests. The fur of the bear cuscus consists of a soft undercoat and coarse guard hairs. Coloration ranges from gray to brown, with a lighter belly and limbs, and varies depending on the geographic subspecies and age of the animal. The prehensile, non-haired tail is approximately half the length of the animal and serves as a fifth limb, making it easier to move through the dense tropical forest. The bear cuscus is the most primitive of all cuscus, retaining primitive tooth growth and structural features of the skull.

GALAGO. Its large fluffy tail is clearly comparable to that of a squirrel. And his charming face and graceful movements, flexibility and insinuation, clearly reflect his cat-like traits. The amazing jumping ability, mobility, strength and incredible dexterity of this animal clearly show its nature as a funny cat and an elusive squirrel. Of course, there would be a place to use your talents, because a cramped cage is very poorly suited for this. But, if you give this animal a little freedom and sometimes allow him to walk around the apartment, then all his quirks and talents will come true. Many even compare it to a kangaroo.

WOMBAT. Without a photograph of a wombat, it is generally impossible to talk about strange and rare animals.
family of two-incisor marsupials native to Australia. Wombats are burrowing herbivores that resemble small bears in appearance. Wombats reach a length of 70 to 120 cm and a weight of 20 to 45 kg. Their body is compact, their limbs are short and strong. Each of them has five fingers, of which the outer four are crowned with large claws adapted for digging the ground. The tail is short, the large head gives the impression of being slightly flattened on the sides, and the eyes are small.

Interestingly, the wombat's jaws and teeth show similarities to rodents. In the upper and lower rows, wombats have a pair of front cutting teeth. The chewing teeth are constructed very simply; there are no angular teeth. Wombats have the fewest teeth among marsupials - 12.

AMAZONIAN DOLPHIN. It is the largest river dolphin. Inia geoffrensis, as scientists call it, reaches 2.5 meters in length and weighs 2 quintals. Light gray juveniles become lighter with age. The Amazonian dolphin has a full body, with a thin tail and a narrow muzzle. A round forehead, a slightly curved beak and small eyes are the features of this species of dolphin. The Amazonian dolphin is found in the rivers and lakes of Latin America.

MOONFISH or MOLA-MOLA. This fish can be more than three meters long and weigh about one and a half tons. The largest specimen of the sunfish was caught in New Hampshire, USA. Its length was five and a half meters, there is no data on weight. The shape of the fish’s body resembles a disk; it was this feature that gave rise to the Latin name. The moon fish has thick skin. It is elastic, and its surface is covered with small bony projections. The larvae of fish of this species and young individuals swim in the usual way. Adult large fish swim on their sides, quietly moving their fins. They seem to lie on the surface of the water, where they are very easy to notice and catch. However, many experts believe that only sick fish swim this way. As an argument, they cite the fact that the stomach of fish caught on the surface is usually empty.

TASMANIAN DEVIL. Being the largest of modern predatory marsupials, this black animal with white spots on the chest and rump, with a huge mouth and sharp teeth has a dense physique and a stern disposition, for which, in fact, it was called the devil. Emitting ominous screams at night, the massive and clumsy Tasmanian devil looks like a small bear: the front legs are slightly longer than the hind legs, the head is large, and the muzzle is blunt.

LORI. A characteristic feature of the loris is its large eyes, which can be bordered by dark circles; there is a white dividing stripe between the eyes. The face of a loris can be compared to a clown mask. This most likely explains the animal's name: Loeris means "clown".

GAVIAL. Of course, one of the representatives of the crocodile order. With age, the gharial's muzzle becomes even narrower and longer. Due to the fact that the gharial feeds on fish, its teeth are long and sharp, located at a slight angle for ease of eating.

OKAPI. FOREST GIRAFFE. Traveling through Central Africa, journalist and African explorer Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) more than once encountered local aborigines. Having once met an expedition equipped with horses, the natives of the Congo told the famous traveler that in their jungle there were wild animals very similar to his horses. The Englishman, who had seen a lot, was somewhat puzzled by this fact. After some negotiations in 1900, the British were finally able to purchase parts of the skin of the mysterious animal from the local population and send them to the Royal Zoological Society in London, where the unknown animal was given the name “Johnston's Horse” (Equus johnstoni), that is, it was assigned to the equine family . But imagine their surprise when a year later they managed to get a whole skin and two skulls of an unknown animal, and discovered that It looked more like a dwarf giraffe from the Ice Age. Only in 1909 was it possible to catch a living specimen of Okapi.

WALABI. TREE KANGAROO. The genus of Tree kangaroos - wallabies (Dendrolagus) includes 6 species. Of these, D. Inustus or the bear wallaby, D. Matschiei or Matchisha's wallaby, which has a subspecies D. Goodfellowi (Goodfellow's wallaby), D. Dorianus - the Doria wallaby, live in New Guinea. In Australian Queensland, there are D. Lumholtzi - Lumholtz's wallaby (bungari), D. Bennettianus - Bennett's wallaby, or tharibina. Their original habitat was New Guinea, but now wallabies are also found in Australia. Tree kangaroos live in tropical forests of mountainous regions, at altitudes from 450 to 3000m. above sea level. The body size of the animal is 52-81 cm, the tail is from 42 to 93 cm long. Wallabies weigh, depending on the species, from 7.7 to 10 kg for males and from 6.7 to 8.9 kg. females.

WOLVERINE. Moves quickly and deftly. The animal has an elongated muzzle, a large head, with rounded ears. The jaws are powerful, the teeth are sharp. Wolverine is a “big-footed” animal; the feet are disproportionate to the body, but their size allows them to move freely through deep snow cover. Each paw has huge and curved claws. Wolverine is an excellent tree climber and has keen eyesight. The voice is like a fox.

FOSSA. The island of Madagascar has preserved animals that are not found not only in Africa itself, but also in the rest of the world. One of the rarest animals is the Fossa - the only representative of the genus Cryptoprocta and the largest predatory mammal living on the island of Madagascar. The appearance of the Fossa is a little unusual: it is a cross between a civet and a small puma. Sometimes the fossa is also called the Madagascar lion, since the ancestors of this animal were much larger and reached the size of a lion. Fossa has a squat, massive and slightly elongated body, the length of which can reach up to 80 cm (on average it is 65-70 cm). The fossa's paws are long, but quite thick, with the hind paws being higher than the front paws. The tail is often equal to the length of the body and reaches up to 65 cm.

MANUL approves of this post and is here only because he must be present. Everyone already knows him. He is a predatory mammal of the cat family. It received its second name - Pallas's cat - in honor of the German naturalist Peter Pallas, who discovered Pallas cat on the coast of the Caspian Sea in the 18th century. The Latin name Otocolobus comes from the Greek us, otos - ear, kolobos - ugly, that is, “ugly ear”. Pallas cat is an animal the size of a domestic cat: its body length is 52-65 cm, tail 23-31 cm; it weighs 2-5 kg. It differs from an ordinary cat in having a denser, more massive body with short thick legs and very thick hair. The head of the Pallas' cat is small, wide and flattened, with small rounded ears that are widely spaced. The eyes are yellow, the pupils of which in bright light, unlike the pupils of the eyes of a domestic cat, do not acquire a slit-like shape, but remain round. On the cheeks there are tufts of elongated hair (sideburns). The tail is long and thick, with a rounded tip.

PHENEC. STEPPE FOX. He assents to the manula and is present here insofar as. After all, everyone has seen him: a miniature fox of a peculiar appearance that lives in the deserts of North Africa. Sometimes it is classified as a special genus, Fennecus. This animal got its name from the Arabic fanak, which means “fox”. The scientific species name zerda comes from the Greek xeros, “dry.” The fennec fox is the smallest member of the canid family, smaller in size than a domestic cat. Height at the withers is 18-22 cm, body length is 30-40 cm, tail is up to 30 cm, it weighs up to 1.5 kg. The muzzle is short and pointed. The eyes are big. The fennec cat's ears are the largest among predators in relation to the size of the head; they reach 15 cm in length and are needed to better cool the body in the heat of the day. The foot is pubescent, which allows the fennec to move along the hot sand. Its teeth are small (especially the fangs), similar to the teeth of a bat-eared fox.

NAKED MERCHANT. A small burrowing rodent of the mole rat family. It is distinguished by a unique social structure for mammals, cold-bloodedness, insensitivity to acids, insensitivity to pain, and tolerance to CO2 concentrations. It is the longest-living of rodents (up to 28 years). Small rodents with a body length of 8-10 cm, a tail - 3-4 cm and a weight of 30-35 g. The queens are larger: they weigh from 50 to 80 g. Appearance indicates adaptation to the underground way of life. The build is heavy. The head is relatively large, on a short neck. The eyes are tiny - 0.5 mm, vision is poor. The external auricles are reduced, but the hearing is acute, as evidenced by the extensive repertoire of sounds made by mole rats. They have a keen sense of smell and touch; their muzzles and tails are covered with sensitive vibrissae, in particular allowing mole rats to easily move through tunnels both head-first and tail-first.

PALM THIEF. Representative of decapod crustaceans. Its habitat is the western Pacific Ocean and the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. This animal from the family of land crayfish is quite large for its species. The body of an adult reaches a size of up to 32 cm and a weight of up to 3-4 kg. For a long time it was mistakenly believed that with its claws it could even crack coconuts, which it then eats. To date, scientists have proven that crayfish can only feed on already split coconuts. They, being its main source of nutrition, gave the name palm thief. Although he is not averse to eating other types of food - the fruits of Pandanus plants, organic substances from the soil, and even his own kind.

The name of this fish in Latin sounds too boring, so it is easier to call it FISH WITH A TRANSPARENT HEAD. She has a transparent head through which she can see with her tubular eyes. The head, through which the fish watches for prey, helps protect the eyes. First opened in 1939. It lives at a much greater depth, so it has not been fully studied. In particular, the principle of fish vision was not entirely clear. She was supposed to have great difficulty due to the fact that she could only look up. Only in 2009 was the structure of the eye of this fish fully studied. Apparently, when trying to study it earlier, the fish simply could not tolerate the change in pressure.

ECHIDNA. representative of the order Monotremes. Along with the echidna, the same order includes the platypus. The family contains three species of echidnas, divided into two genera. Echidnas look like a small porcupine, as they are covered with coarse hair and quills. The maximum body length is approximately 30 cm. Their lips are beak-shaped. Echidnas' limbs are short and quite strong, with large claws, allowing them to dig well. Echidnas have no teeth and a small mouth. The food consists of termites and ants, which the echidnas catch with their long sticky tongue, as well as small invertebrates, which the echidnas crush in their mouths, pressing their tongues to the roof of their mouth.

As you know, forests are not only the lungs of the planet and a storehouse of various berries, mushrooms and medicinal herbs, but also home to many amazing animals. In this regard, we are telling you about some rare animals that live in Russian forests.

Musk deer

This small deer-like animal with fangs lives in the mountain coniferous forests of the Sayans, Altai, Transbaikalia and Primorye. Despite its terrifying appearance, the musk deer feeds exclusively on vegetation. However, the musk deer is notable not only for this, but also for its attractive smell, which lures females for mating. This smell appears due to the musk gland located in the male’s belly next to the genitourinary canal.

As you know, musk is a valuable component of various medicines and perfumes. And it is precisely because of this that musk deer often become the prey of hunters and poachers. Another reason why this unusual animal is considered an endangered species is that the boundaries of its range are shrinking, which is associated with increased human economic activity (mainly deforestation).

One solution to the problem of preserving the species in the wild is the farming of musk deer and the selection of musk from living males. However, breeding musk deer is not as easy as, for example, cows.

Japanese green pigeon

This unusual bird, about 33 cm long and weighing approximately 300 grams, has a bright yellowish-green color. It is common in Southeast Asia, but is also found in the Sakhalin region (Crillon Peninsula, Moneron Islands and South Kuril Islands). The bird inhabits deciduous and mixed forests with an abundance of cherry and bird cherry trees, elderberry bushes and other plants, the fruits of which it feeds on.

The Japanese green pigeon is a rare species, and therefore little is known about its life. Today scientists know that green pigeons are monogamous birds. They weave their nests from thin twigs and place them in trees at a height of up to 20 meters. It is believed that partners hatch eggs in turns for 20 days. And after this, helpless, down-covered chicks are born, which will learn to fly only after five weeks. However, pairs or flocks of green pigeons are rarely seen in Russia; most often they are noticed alone.

Far Eastern or Amur leopards

These graceful cats today inhabit the forests of the Chinese provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang and the Primorsky Territory of Russia. In this small territory (an area of ​​about 5000 km²), about forty of these cats live today, 7-12 individuals of which live in China, and 20-25 in Russia.

Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were much more rare cats, and their range covered a considerable territory - the eastern and northeastern parts of China, the Korean Peninsula, the Amur, Primorsky and Ussuri territories. However, between 1970 and 1983, the Far Eastern leopard lost 80% of its territory! The main reasons then were forest fires and the conversion of forest areas for agriculture.

Today, the Amur leopard continues to lose its territory and also suffers from a lack of food. After all, roe deer, sika deer and other ungulates, which this leopard hunts, are killed in huge numbers by poachers. And since the Far Eastern leopard has beautiful fur, it itself is a very desirable trophy for poachers.

Also, due to the lack of suitable food in the wild, Far Eastern leopards are forced to go to reindeer herding farms in search of it. There, predators are often killed by the owners of these farms. And on top of that, due to the small size of the population of Amur leopards, it will be very difficult for representatives of the subspecies to survive during various disasters like a fire.

However, all this does not mean that the subspecies will soon disappear. Today there are still large areas of forest that provide suitable habitat for the Far Eastern leopard. And if these areas can be preserved and protected from fires and poaching, then the population of these amazing animals in the wild will increase.

Interestingly, Far Eastern leopards are the only leopards that have been able to learn to live and hunt in harsh winter conditions. In this, by the way, they are helped by long hair, as well as strong and long legs, which allow them to catch up with prey while moving through the snow. However, Amur leopards are not only good hunters, but also exemplary family men. Indeed, sometimes males stay with females after mating and even help them with raising kittens, which, in principle, is not typical for leopards.

Alkina

These butterflies live in the southwest of Primorsky Krai and are found along streams and rivers in mountain forests, where the food plant of the caterpillars of the species, the Manchurian liana, grows. Most often, male butterflies fly to the flowers of this plant, and females sit in the grass most of the time. Alkinoe females tend to linger on this plant to lay eggs on its leaves.

Today, due to disturbance of the habitat of kirkazona and its collection as a medicinal plant, its quantity in nature is decreasing, which, of course, affects the number of alkinoe. On top of everything else, butterflies suffer because they are collected by collectors.

bison

Previously, these animals were widespread in the territory of the former USSR, but by the beginning of the 20th century they survived only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Caucasus. However, even there their numbers were steadily declining. For example, by 1924, only 5-10 bison remained in the Caucasus. The main reasons for the decline of bison were their extermination by hunters and poachers, as well as destruction during military operations.

The restoration of their numbers began in 1940 in the Caucasus Nature Reserve, and now bison inhabit two regions in Russia - the North Caucasus and the center of the European part. In the North Caucasus, bison live in Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Ingushetia and the Stavropol Territory. And in the European part there are isolated herds of bison in the Tver, Vladimir, Rostov and Vologda regions.

Bison have always been inhabitants of deciduous and mixed forests, but avoided extensive forest areas. In the Western Caucasus, these animals live mainly at an altitude of 0.9 - 2.1 thousand meters above sea level, often going out into clearings or treeless slopes, but never moving away from forest edges.

In appearance, the bison is very similar to its American relative, the bison. Nevertheless, it is still possible to distinguish them. First of all, the bison has a higher hump and longer horns and tail than the bison. And in the hot months, the back of the bison is covered with very short hair (it even seems that it is bald), while the bison has hair of the same length all over its body at any time of the year.

The bison is listed in the Red Book of Russia as an endangered species and today lives in many nature reserves and zoos.

Fish owl

This species settles along the banks of rivers in the Far East from Magadan to the Amur region and Primorye, as well as on Sakhalin and the Southern Kuril Islands. The fish owl prefers to live in the hollows of old trees with an abundance of aquatic prey nearby, however, old forests and hollow trees are often cut down, which inevitably displaces these birds from their habitats. In addition, fish eagle owls are caught by poachers, and they often fall into traps while trying to pull the bait out of them. The development of water tourism on the Far Eastern rivers and, consequently, increased disturbance of these birds gradually leads to a decrease in the number of eagle owls and interferes with their reproduction. All this has led to the fact that today this species is endangered.

The fish owl is one of the largest owls in the world, as well as the largest member of its genus. Interestingly, these birds can hunt in two different ways. Most often, the fish eagle looks for fish while sitting on a stone in the river, from the shore or from a tree hanging over the river. Having noticed the prey, the eagle owl dives into the water and instantly grabs it with its sharp claws. And when this predator tries to catch sedentary fish, crayfish or frogs, it simply enters the water and probes the bottom with its paw in search of prey.

Giant noctule

This bat, the largest in Russia and Europe, lives in deciduous forests in the territory from the western borders of our country to the Orenburg region, as well as from the northern borders to the Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod regions. There they settle in tree hollows, 1-3 individuals each, in colonies of other bats (usually rufous and lesser noctules).

The giant noctule is a rare species, but ecologists do not know exactly what is causing their low numbers. According to scientists, the threat is posed by deforestation of broad-leaved forests. However, today there are no special measures to protect these animals, since it is not clear what measures will be effective.

Interestingly, these bats hunt large beetles and moths, flying over forest edges and ponds. However, analysis of blood and droppings showed that these animals also feed on small birds during migrations, however, this has never been recorded.

Sky barbel

In Russia, in the south of the Primorsky Territory (in the Terneysky, Ussuriysky, Shkotovsky, Partizansky and Khasansky districts) a beetle with a bright blue color lives. It lives in broadleaf forests mainly in the wood of the greenbark maple. There the female beetle lays eggs, and after about half a month the larvae appear. They develop in the wood for about 4 years, and then, in June, the larva gnaws out the “cradle” and pupates. After about 20 days, the beetle emerges from the wood and immediately begins to reproduce. He will spend all his strength on this for the rest of his life, which lasts only two weeks.

The barbel is listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species whose numbers are declining. According to environmentalists, the reason for this is deforestation and a sharp decrease in the number of greenbark maples.

Himalayan or white-breasted bear

The Ussuri white-breasted bear inhabits the deciduous forests of the Primorsky Territory, the southern regions of the Khabarovsk Territory and the southeastern part of the Amur Region. Until 1998, it was listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species, and today it is a hunting species. However, if in the 90s its population was 4-7 thousand individuals, now this bear is on the verge of extinction (its population is up to 1 thousand individuals). The reason for this was, first of all, deforestation and mass hunting. The latter, by the way, was discussed during the international environmental forum “Nature without Borders” in Vladivostok, after which in 2006 a decision was made in the Primorsky Territory to introduce restrictions on hunting the Himalayan bear during hibernation.

The white-breasted bear leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle: in trees it obtains food and hides from enemies (these are mainly Amur tigers and brown bears). Almost the entire diet of this bear consists of plant foods, in particular nuts, fruits and berries, as well as shoots, bulbs and rhizomes. It also does not refuse to feast on ants, insects, mollusks and frogs.

Black stork

This is a widespread but rare species, whose numbers are declining due to human economic activity, manifested in the clearing of forests and drainage of swamps. Today the bird is found in forests from the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions to Southern Primorye. The black stork prefers to settle near bodies of water in deep, old forests.

It is there, on old tall trees (and sometimes on rock ledges) that black storks build nests, which they will then use for several years. When the time comes to invite the female to the nest (around the end of March), the male fluffs up his white undertail and begins to emit a hoarse whistle. The eggs laid by the female (from 4 to 7 pieces) will be incubated by the partners in turn until the chicks hatch from them after 30 days.

Red or mountain wolf

This representative of the animal world has a body up to 1 meter long and can weigh from 12 to 21 kg. Outwardly, it can be confused with a fox, and this is precisely one of the main reasons for its extinction. Hunters who know a little about animals shoot mountain wolves in large numbers.

He attracted people's attention with his fluffy fur, which has a beautiful bright red color. It is also worth noting that his tail is slightly different from a fox's, having a black tip. The habitat of this wolf is the Far East, China and Mongolia.

Przewalski's horse

The Przewalski's horse is the only species of wild horse remaining on our planet. The ancestors of all domestic horses were other wild horses - tarpans, now extinct. In addition to the tarpan, a close relative of the Przewalski's horse can be considered the Asian donkey - the kulan.

The Przewalski's horse is considered a primitive species and, along with equines, retains some characteristics of a donkey. It differs from domestic horses in its dense build, short, strong neck, and low legs. Her ears are small, but her head, on the contrary, is large and heavy, like a donkey’s. A distinctive feature of wild horses is a stiff, erect mane without bangs. The color of Przewalski's horses is red with a lighter belly and muzzle. The mane, tail and legs are black.

Due to a lack of food resources and hunting, Przewalski's horses completely disappeared in nature by the 60s of the 20th century. But a large number of these animals are preserved in zoos around the world. As a result of painstaking work, it was possible to overcome the problems with closely related crossing of Przewalski's horses and some of the individuals were released in the Khustan-Nuru Nature Reserve (Mongolia).

Interesting fact— as an experimental project, in the early 1990s, several individuals were released into the wild, and not just somewhere, but into the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. There they began to multiply, and now there are about one hundred of them in the zone.

Amur goral

The Amur goral is a subspecies of mountain goat named Goral, found in the Primorsky Territory in the amount of 600-700 goats and goats. Protected by the state. Friends and relatives of the Amur goral live in the Himalayas and Tibet, and correspond with the Amur goral extremely rarely.

Goral is afraid of the wolf and often dies from its arrogant teeth. In general, it seems that wolves are the most important goats. In fact, only a real goat can calmly eat the Amur goral, which is listed in the Red Book.

Western Caucasian tur or Caucasian mountain goat

The West Caucasian Tur lives in the Caucasus Mountains, namely along the Russian-Georgian border. It was recorded in the Red Book of Russia “thanks” to human activity, as well as due to mating with the East Caucasian aurochs. The latter leads to the birth of infertile individuals.

The number of these animals in the wild today is estimated at 10 thousand individuals. The International Union for Conservation of Nature gives Western Caucasian tur status “in danger”.

Asiatic cheetah

Previously, it could be found on a vast territory that stretched from the Arabian Sea to the valley of the Syrdarya River. Today in nature there are only about 10 individuals of this rare species, and in all zoos in the world you can count 23 representatives of the Asian cheetah.

The Asiatic cheetah is not much different in appearance from its African counterpart. An elegant body without a single hint of fat deposits, a powerful tail and a small muzzle, decorated with pronounced “tear tracks”. However, genetically these subspecies differ so much that the African cat will not be able to replenish the population of Asians.

The reasons for the disappearance of this animal were interference in the lives of human cats and the lack of their main food - ungulates. The predator cannot meet its nutritional needs with hares and rabbits and often attacks domestic animals.

This aristocratic cat considers it unworthy to hide in ambush during a hunt. It silently approaches the potential victim at a distance of up to 10 meters and instantly picks up a huge speed of up to 115 km/h and catches up with the prey, knocking down even large animals with a blow of its paw, and then strangling the victim. A hunter needs only 0.5 seconds to jump 6-8 meters long. However, the chase lasts only about 20 seconds; the cat spends too much energy on such a super-powerful jerk; the breathing rate in such a race exceeds 150 times per minute. Half the chases are unsuccessful, and while the cheetah is resting, its prey is often taken by larger cats. However, an Asian will never eat leftovers from other animals or carrion. Rather, he would prefer to go hunting again.

Probably, these beauties almost went extinct during the Ice Age, all representatives are close relatives, and even without human intervention, signs of inbreeding and extinction are clearly visible. There is too much mortality among cheetah kittens, more than half of them do not live to be 1 year old. In captivity, these predators practically do not produce offspring. In ancient times, when these hunting cats occupied a worthy place in the courts of high nobles and did not need anything, the birth of kittens was very rare.

Amur tiger

The Amur tiger is the largest tiger in the world. And the only one of the tigers who has mastered life in the snow. No other country in the world has such an asset. Without exaggeration, this is one of the most advanced predators among all others. Unlike the lion, which forms prides (families) and lives through collective hunts, the tiger is a distinct loner, and therefore requires the highest skill in hunting.

The tiger crowns the top of the food pyramid of a unique ecological system called the Ussuri taiga. Therefore, the state of the tiger population is an indicator of the state of the entire Far Eastern nature.

The fate of the Amur tiger is dramatic. In the middle of the 19th century it was numerous. At the end of the 19th century. Up to 100 animals were hunted annually. In the thirties of the last century, the tiger was occasionally found only in the most remote corners of the Ussuri taiga, difficult to reach by humans. The Amur tiger is on the verge of extinction due to unregulated shooting of adult individuals, intensive capture of tiger cubs, clearing of forests in the vicinity of some rivers and a decrease in the number of wild artiodactyl animals caused by increased hunting pressure and other reasons; Winters with little snow also had an adverse effect.

In 1935, a large and one-of-a-kind Sikhote-Alin State Nature Reserve was organized in the Primorsky Territory. Somewhat later - Lazovsky and Ussuriysky nature reserves. Since 1947, tiger hunting was strictly prohibited. Even the capture of tiger cubs for zoos was allowed only on occasion, with special permits. These measures turned out to be timely. Already in 1957, the number of Amur tigers almost doubled compared to the thirties, and by the early sixties it exceeded one hundred. The Amur tiger is protected by the state - it is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation; hunting and catching tigers is prohibited.

Since 1998, the federal target program “Conservation of the Amur Tiger”, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, has been implemented. There are just over 500 Amur tigers left in the Far East. The country has a presidential program to protect them. Without exaggeration, every animal has a special place.