Unfortunately, human activity on the planet has led to the fact that many species of animals and plants that inhabited it either disappeared or are on the verge of extinction. The only biological species whose population is growing from year to year is man himself.
Today in Russia there are Red Books of the federal, regional and state levels, which include flora and fauna. The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk Region (see photo below) contains a complete list of animals and plants that people should protect.
Red Book
The need for such a document became most acute in the 90s of the 20th century. The industrialization of the country gave its negative results by the end of the century in the form of the extinction of whole species. The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region contains animals and plants that need human help. For some of them, it is a matter of life and death.
All natural objects subject to protection are divided into categories:
- the first includes species that may completely disappear if appropriate measures are not taken to save them;
- in the second group, species whose numbers are rapidly declining, and they can at any time go into the category of endangered;
- in the third category - representatives of the plant and animal world, rare;
- the fourth group includes specimens that are poorly studied, and there is no information about their true number.
The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region consists mainly of representatives of the second category, although there are animals that can be considered almost extinct from these places.
Siberian Coral Tooth
To meet this type of newts in the field is becoming increasingly difficult. Surprisingly, this relic of the ice age, which has existed for thousands of years, is today on the verge of survival. Few people compare with his ability to survive frosts. For example, the Siberian coal-toothed found in permafrost, after the ice melted in which it was found, came to life and began to look for a food source. The age of this specimen was 90 years, most of which he lived in a state of suspended animation.
These species of newts feed on mollusks, earthworms, crustaceans and various insect larvae. Their disappearance from the Arkhangelsk region may be associated with the destruction of their natural habitat and their usual food. It is unlikely that a relic creature will be able to quickly adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region is unlikely to be able to help him if a person does not stop interfering in the natural ecosystem of the region.
Mnemosyne butterfly
This insect was extremely unlucky. Its caterpillars feed exclusively on one species of plant (Corydalis), and if it disappears, the mnemosin butterfly simply ceases to exist in this region. All animals of the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region are indirectly or directly related to endangered plant species, which once again proves that in nature there are no unnecessary creatures.
Mnemosyne is a medium-sized butterfly of a white or yellowish color with two black spots at the outer edge of the wings. The diet of her caterpillar is a crested plant, on which she leaves her eggs. The butterfly leads a nocturnal lifestyle, preferring to hide in moist forests during the day.
It is listed in the Red Books in all regions of Russia where it lives. Due to deforestation and, as a consequence, the disappearance of the plant necessary for feeding the caterpillars, it may soon not even be available on the territory of the country. To avoid this, it is necessary to identify where the population is and to protect these areas of the forest from deforestation.
Greenland whale
Animals listed in the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region include this mammal. A resident of the polar waters belongs to the suborder of toothless whales.
This mammal does not have a dorsal fin, but it is completely replaced by a lateral and powerful tail. The males of this whale reach a length of 21 meters, the females - 18 m. Hunting for it is prohibited everywhere by the whaling commission, but the fact that they are not killed does not mean that they are safe.
Today, the death of whales is most often associated with fishing nets, in which they become entangled and, not being able to climb to the surface for inspiration, simply drown.
It is the Greenland whale that knows how to make beautiful jumps from the water with the subsequent fall on its side, which people admire so much.
To feed, he needs to eat 2000 kg per day of crustaceans, fish larvae and small mollusks. If due to water pollution their number decreases, this will also lead to the death of whales. Therefore, they are in the second category in the Red Book. The problem of their survival should be solved at the international level, as it relates to water pollution by oil wastes and other toxic substances.
Walrus
Sea animals of the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk Region, a description of which can be found on its pages, although they are listed as living in its waters, often migrate, so it can be difficult to trace their safety.
Unfortunately, people mercilessly exterminated these beautiful and noble animals for the sake of their fat and tusks, but hunting for them is prohibited today. The walrus population is growing much slower than their extermination. Currently, their rookeries are on islands in the Laptev Sea, in the Chukchi Sea, off the coast of Alaska and Kamchatka.
These animals live in herds, which have their own hierarchy and division of responsibilities. For example, when all individuals go to bed on the shore, sentries must be set. In case of danger, they make trumpet sounds, and the awakened herd immediately rushes to escape into the water. Sometimes a cub may die in the crush, but this rarely happens, as the females protect them with their bodies, even with a threat to their own lives.
Red-throated Loon
The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region includes insects, fish and birds in its lists. The red-throated loon is a small and very pretty bird, named so because it has a bright red spot on its neck.
This migratory bird prefers not the sea coast, like its other relatives, but rivers and the tundra zone. She flies very rapidly, taking off vertically from the water, and on the ground she is almost helpless and walks with difficulty, sometimes she simply crawls, helping herself with flippers. In her native element, she dives deeply for prey, which is fish. As additional food can eat shellfish, crustaceans and aquatic insects.
For the sake of its feathers and fluff, people put this bird at risk of extinction. Today, the population in the Arkhangelsk region is gradually growing, perhaps in some foreseeable future it will be removed from the list of rare species.
White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle
Many birds are rare species and are subject to protection throughout the region. The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region in the section "Rare animals" was replenished with such birds:
- White-tailed eagle: lives near the sea coast or large freshwater bodies. These beautiful predators are quite large in size: up to a meter in length, and a wingspan of more than 2 meters. Beak and legs of their bright yellow color. The white-tailed eagle feeds mainly on fish or what it takes from other waterfowl hunters. If the “fishing” is unsuccessful, it may attack a wetland bird.
- Golden eagle is best known in the region, although this predator lives in the mountains. The hunt leads to game of completely different sizes - from a field mouse to a hare and young deer. Nests are high in the mountains. It began to disappear due to extermination by the peasants protecting their chickens and pesticides with which they spray the forests.
Peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon belongs to the falcon family. It is believed that this is the fastest living creature on the planet. Able to develop speed during a dive flight over 300 km / h. During the hunt, he strikes his prey with his paws at all the speed of falling so that even a large game can have its head torn off. It is also threatened with extinction due to pesticides with which trees and fields are sprayed.
Unfortunately, the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region, whose animals and plants are numerous, does not guarantee their safety, but all inhabitants of the region should be introduced to endangered species.
