Stories about rare plants and animals. A message about an animal listed in the Red Book. Red Book - the last frontier
In Kuban, entire populations of animals are at risk of existence; they are listed in the Red Book Krasnodar region.
In our Krasnodar region also has its own “Red Book”. Let us note in passing that our region is simply unique in terms of natural resources! It is located on an area of more than eighty and a half thousand kilometers. It has everything - the seas (Black and Azov), a great many lakes and estuaries, the deep and wide Kuban River - at the same time our drinking basin (water is pumped from it into our water pipes with powerful pumps) and nurse (on its picturesque banks amateurs like to sit with fishing rods fishing). And the great ones Caucasus Mountains with the famous ski resort "Krasnaya Polyana", which has found a second wind, in preparation for the Winter Olympic Games 2014!
The assessment system presented therein contains explicit criteria and categories for classifying the conservation status of an individual based on their likelihood of extinction. In general, these criteria are taken into account. 
- The rate of decline.
- Geographic range.
- If the species already has a small population size.
- Which species is very small or lives in a limited area.
- If the results a indicate a high probability of extinction in the wild.
- Therefore, a full assessment cannot be performed.
Yes, the nature of Kuban is rich in its diversity, as well as in its fauna. But we do not always treat them with care: we pollute rivers, lakes and seas during construction, and even sacrifice unique relict areas with juniper, pistachios, Pitsunda pine, etc. (remember the story with the same protected Bolshoi Utrish, where they tried to chop off a coastal strip at the edge, supposedly for military purposes, and then, having resold it, they decided, apparently, to build a private recreation center here for who knows who! And not at all rare cases of poaching?! So it turns out that in the Krasnodar Territory entire populations of animals are at risk of existence. That is why we have a regional “Red Book”, which includes dozens of species of rare animals. If we do not take energetic and comprehensive measures, the region is on the verge of extinction will be supplied, in particular - the golden eagle, the Asia Minor newt, the Caucasian viper, the alpine barbel, the death's head hawk moth, the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, the bison, the Central Asian leopard, the chamois, the yellow-bellied snake, the Trocian yellowbell, the Mediterranean tortoise, the European marsh tortoise - and this list We can continue. The sad fact is that we have only 1,100 bison left, of which in our famous Caucasian Nature Reserve there are even fewer - 830. And the reason for this is poachers who secretly shoot them, and the poor conditions in their habitat. People sometimes simply thoughtlessly kill animals, including reptiles. A snake or a viper crawls along, does not touch anyone, does not offend anyone. And the adult uncles, for no reason at all, suddenly become enraged, enraged, arm themselves with sticks and mercilessly and senselessly kill in front of the children. What kind of example are they setting for the younger generation?! Due to the fault of poaching fishermen, dolphins are dying in nets - cute, good-natured sea animals that are very friendly towards humans.
The Red Book - the last frontier?
It provides clear criteria and categories for classifying the conservation status of individual species based on their likelihood of extinction. All other things being equal, species experiencing a 90 percent decline over 10 years, for example, are classified as endangered. Likewise, another species experiencing a 50 percent decline over the same period would be classified as endangered, and one that had a 30 percent decline over the same time period would be considered vulnerable.
The Red Book - the last frontier?
Wow, these are some journalists and representatives of the non-systemic opposition - sometimes for the sake of their own PR they are ready to “throw out the baby with the bathwater”! Let us remember, in particular, the story of the Siberian Cranes, which thundered throughout the world when Russian President V.V. Putin, in order to save a flock of unique birds, stood up all dressed in white on the famous aircraft into the sky, and the proud birds, who recognized him as their leader, confidently flew after him to a more convenient habitat. How many sarcastic words and remarks were spoken at that time against our head of state! But he reacted to them with his characteristic calm. He certainly doesn’t need any PR. And this was convincingly confirmed by the fact that in the past year he was recognized as the most influential person in the world. But with the Siberian Cranes everything is quite simple and prosaic - as an endangered species, they are listed in the “International Red Book”, which was established back in 1963 by the World Conservation Union. The book, alas, records a sad fact - fifteen species of its inhabitants are on the verge of extinction on the planet, among them are the Siberian Crane, and among the animals - the snow leopard (irbis), the Amur tiger, amur leopard, Pallas's cat (wild cat), Komo monitor lizard, etc.
However, it is important to understand that a species cannot be classified using only one criterion; It is important for the researcher to evaluate all five criteria when determining the status of a species. Butterflies and butterflies: fact or fiction. Every year, thousands of scientists around the world evaluate or re-evaluate species.
It provides a generally accepted standard to measure the conservation status of species over time. Today, this list is presented as an online database available to the public. Scientists can analyze the percentage of species in a given category and how those percentages change over time; they can also analyze the threats and conservation measures that underlie observed trends.
Let us remember St. Petersburg in November 2010, when the World Forum on the conservation of the Amur tiger was held. V.V. Putin took an active part in it, and a whole program was adopted in Russia to increase the population of this amazingly beautiful and brave animal. Now it is being actively implemented, and the world community is regularly informed about it.
Instead of native red squirrels, gray squirrels, exotic species, that is, from their natural habitat, are running around in their garden. "They get a little restless and they break open the harder plastic containers and get into the trash and destroy things," McPherson says.
But this is only a small aspect of the destructive potential of this species. This causes red squirrels to become extinct. Gray animals have more puppies, eat more and eat more, even steal food that red animals store for the winter. The estimate is that there are still only 160,000 red squirrels in the UK. However, according to red squirrels in southern Scotland, the gray population consists of more than three million animals.
Let us remind you that many thousands of species of wild animals, birds, inhabitants of the seas and oceans are listed in the International Red Book, flora, whose priceless life is under threat of existence and may simply end over time. There are acute problems with the preservation of flora and fauna in Russia itself. In particular, 500 species of animals alone are listed in our domestic “Red Book”. For example, the Ussuri sika deer, the Japanese whale, the bighorn sheep, the gray seal, the Mednovsky Arctic fox, the Altai mountain sheep - it would take a long time to list them all, and it would take up a lot of space. Those interested in the problem can read it themselves, including the electronic one. version of the book and thereby satisfy your interest. Well, why the population numbers of various animal species are falling is well known in our sublunary world. There is no more terrible enemy of the nature around us than man! Look how barbarically our forests are cut down and exported to neighboring countries for next to nothing. But they are the lungs of the earth, the habitat of the animal world. And bear paws in bags and secretly supplied for big money to the Celestial Empire for gourmets and for medicine! These are isolated negative facts, but there are a great many of them.
This view should decorate the garden of his country house. "I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and tell Thomas Brocklehurst that it wasn't very good idea" says ecologist Ken Neil, who works on the Scots Scots Project. The vast majority of the remaining native animals in the United Kingdom, or 75% of them, live in Scotland.
Conservationists have decided to rid Scotland of the gray species so that the red one can repopulate the habitat from which it was banished. Neil and his team scattered traps across the country's forests and cities. When a red squirrel hits, it's free. But if the gray is captured, he is killed. "There's no alternative, they have nowhere to go and we can't send them back to the United States," Neal says. The organization trains its hunters to kill animals with just one shot.
There is only one conclusion from all that has been said - the nature around us, its flora and fauna must be protected like the apple of our eye. Because by jeopardizing their existence, we ourselves will become a rare population, die out, and our beloved planet, blue in appearance from the heights of Space, will turn into a lifeless space!
Over the past few centuries, people have been quite actively exploring the vastness of planet Earth. They extract minerals, plow meadows, cut down forests, and hunt animals. Such active human activity upsets the balance of wildlife, and some animal species today are on the verge of extinction. To draw attention to endangered animal species, conservationists created the Red Book, which lists rare species plants and animals. The Amur tiger is also listed in the Red Book.
Without even admitting it, Neil feels sorry for animals. He doesn't want to demonize gray squirrels, but the point is that humans created the problem and now they need to fix it, he says, adding that the only solution is to eradicate exotic species.
“Protecting native species is important as they constitute the country's specific and unique biodiversity,” he argues. Neil collects protein hair samples from Scottish forests every spring to find out what species live in the region. To pick up the material, Neil applies double-sided tape at the entrance to the peanut boxes. Based on the selection results, he decides where to place the traps next season.
Tiger King
This majestic animal lives in the Far East, on the banks of the Amur River. The Amur tiger can, without a doubt, be called a king, because it is the largest and strongest representative of the tiger family. The weight of an Amur tiger can exceed three hundred kilograms, and its length, including its tail, reaches three meters.
During the same period, reds were discovered in regions where they had not been found before. “We believe our strategy is working,” says Neil. Humans are not the gray squirrel's only predators. For the European pine market they are excellent food. This species of carnivorous mammal native to the British Isles has been extinguished in several regions. But its population is now recovering in Scotland and Ireland.
Several years ago, ecologists discussed the impact of the European woodpecker on red or gray squirrel populations. These animals feed on reds, but seem to prefer grays, which are larger. A recent study by researchers Emma Sheehy and Colin Lawton from National University Ireland in Galway confirmed this theory. They found that in Irish regions where the European woodpecker was present, red squirrel populations flourished while gray squirrels were less common.
The Amur tiger is the only tiger species that has learned to endure harsh, snowy winters. His magnificent fur helps him in this. The fur of the Amur tiger is red, with black stripes, which form a unique and inimitable pattern. You cannot find two individuals with the same pattern. The red tint of the fur on the face of this animal is interspersed with white spots, where there are patterns of black stripes. The complex pattern helps the tiger camouflage itself while hunting. The huge tabby cat's body is strong and flexible, its head is round. Retractable claws on the paws are adapted for grabbing and tearing prey. The tiger's huge fangs give it a menacing appearance. They are sharp and slightly curved.
"The abundance of European woodpeckers may be a key factor in the success or failure of the gray squirrel as an invasive species," Shehey and Lawton write. But the gray squirrel isn't the only species that worries environmentalists. In the early 20th century, Norwegian mink was imported to Britain for fur production. He escaped from captivity and spread throughout British Isles. Other invasive alien species include North American crayfish and zebra mussels. These species are also targeted for eradication.
The problem of animals introduced into different ecosystems that threaten the natural balance is also seen in Brazil. According to the Ministry of Environment, more than 500 exotic species have already been registered in the country. Some of them are considered pests and also cause damage to the economy, such as the golden mussel. In the country, the species multiply rapidly and clog water pipes and filters from hydroelectric power plants.
Hunting and fishing
Hunting is the most important activity for the Amur tiger, because it eats only meat. Its prey is usually ungulates that live in the territory of residence - wild boars, wapiti, roe deer and sika deer. Tigers hunt, sneaking up on their prey unnoticed on soft cat paws. Having crept closer, they overtake the victim with a sharp jump. In summer, the Amur tiger can also engage in fishing. large fish. It does not attack humans, and when there is a shortage of food, the tiger can go to human habitation and hunt domestic animals.
Another example is Nile tilapia, which came to Brazil in this century. By feeding on plants and animals, this fish causes the extinction of other species. Even the jackfruit, which is well adapted to the Brazilian climate, is a non-native invasive species.
The plant, originating in India and other regions, was brought over during the colonial era and scattered throughout the country. In areas of the forest where there are large numbers of yaqueira, the extinction of native mammals and insects has been verified. The spread of the red strike in Reggio and the province kills hundreds of palm trees: there is no country where the plant has not been damaged by an animal. It is a buzzing beetle that originated in Asia and is a deadly parasite of many palm species.
Amur tigers are loners. They protect their hunting territory from other tigers, leaving only females and cubs alone. They mark the boundaries of their possessions in a unique way - they stand near a tree on their hind legs and, at a height of more than two meters, peel off the bark with their claws.
Raising offspring
Caring for the offspring lies entirely with the tiger mother. Tiger cubs are born weak and helpless, and for the first six months they feed only on mother's milk. Then the mother gradually begins to accustom the cubs to meat, bringing it back from the hunt. When the cubs grow up, they themselves begin to master the wisdom of hunting. But for several more years they live and hunt with their mother tiger until they become independent.
The impacts affected several palm species, including the most popular Mediterranean ornamental varieties, palm Canary Islands and date, but also coconut and palm trees. Other species that have been reported attacked are betel palm, sugar palm, Chinese palm, sap and others. Some species, such as dwarf palms, were thought to be immune to infestation because it was thought that their sticky secretions could be a barrier to the parasite, but they were found to be vulnerable to the animal as well.
The infection may remain asymptomatic and appear only at an advanced stage. The first symptoms are abnormal bleeding. In the most severe cases, complete leaf loss occurs due to leaf failure. At the terminal end of the infection, a real “collapse” of the plant occurs: only at this moment the parasite abandons the attacked plant, moving to a new specimen. Punch control is "problematic" and very complex due to the competition of several factors: adults move easily and can overcome any obstacles to protect themselves.
Tiger conservation
For normal existence, one Amur tiger requires a fairly large territory - more than one hundred square kilometers. The large-scale human impact on nature at one time reduced the habitat of these noble animals and their numbers began to decline. Another reason for the decline in the number of this species is the valuable fur of the animal, which every hunter used to dream of getting. But now the Amur tiger is under state protection, and these royal animals live in special reserves, where they have all the necessary conditions for life.
Curative chemical treatments require the use of insecticides; Later treatments, in addition to being useless in solving an attack on an infected plant, are also ineffective. The “epidemic” that has spread to Reggio and the province is literally killing hundreds of palm trees: there is no country where the plant has not been damaged by an animal. For over a year now, although attempts have been made to find solutions such as preventive maintenance or eradication of infested palms, you have not been able to stop the beetle from advancing.
Persian leopards, who have so little space on runways contaminated with excrement literally lying on them. According to a conversation with the director of the zoo in the center of Pyrzhitsa, there are many unusual and rare animals. tigers, leopards, pumas, saber sharks, larvae, sajmir lemurs, catta lemurs - and these are just some of the species listed.