The amazing nature of the Voronezh region, with the rivers Don, Usmanka, Voronezh, attracts a large number of animals. A temperate climate, with rainy and non-hot summers and relatively mild winters, makes living on this territory a huge number of animals favorable. In the Voronezh region, the forest-steppe and the steppe zone are mixed.
Fauna of the Voronezh region
The fauna of the Voronezh region is rich and diverse. There are not only large animals such as moose, roe deer, red deer and wolves. But also various animals of the forest-steppe, such as weasels, shrews and bats. Nowhere else in the world is there such a unique animal as the desman, which has chosen the Voronezh region as a house since ancient times.
In the open steppe territories live strept, bustards and marmots. The marmot, listed in the Red Book, was almost completely exterminated in the 30s of the XX century, but later its population was restored. Now in the south of the region there are a large number of marmots, their number has been completely restored.
A variety of birds in the vastness of the region is represented by gulls, storks, swamp-meadow game and common sparrows, swifts and pigeons. Rare species of birds have also chosen these lands. Golden eagles, white-tailed eagles and black swans live in the reserves.
Beavers, otters, kutors and muskrats settled along the river banks. And in the rivers - swamp turtles and frogs coexist with a wide variety of fish. Bream, pike perch, catfish and carp are found along with sterlet and burbot listed in the Red Book.
In the cities and smaller settlements, some animals of the Voronezh region, listed in the Red Book, also found shelter. Bats, martens, weasels, ringed doves, owls, black swans and white storks. Numerous birds, such as sparrows, crows, pigeons and starlings, became permanent residents.
The fauna of the Voronezh region has up to 70 species of mammals, 10 species of amphibians and 9 species of reptiles, 290 species of birds and over ten thousand insects, 50 species of fish. Some species of animals need protection and are listed in the Red Book.
Dangerous relationship
The laws of nature cannot be violated, because the irreparable can happen. Our land requires a reverent and respectful attitude towards nature on the part of man.
But unfortunately, a person makes many mistakes. Endangered animals of the Voronezh region are a vivid example of this. In many ways, the decline in populations is associated with environmental problems that occur not only locally, but are global in nature. Urbanization and the construction of factories and industries polluting the environment leads to the fact that wild animals of the Voronezh region disappear.
Violation of the environment in the Voronezh region
The environmental problem has become urgent for the territory of the Voronezh region, and not only because of its proximity to the ecologically dirty central regions of Russia. But also due to the fact that in large industrial cities such as Voronezh, Liski, Rossosh and others, there is a huge problem with insufficiently treated wastewater. Over a year, more than 90 thousand tons of pollutants and by-products are discharged into wastewater.
Increasing rates of urbanization lead to air pollution. Car exhaust fumes pollute the air to a greater extent (more than 90% of pollution comes from automobile exhausts). And the construction of cities and their expansion leads to a reduction in the habitat of animals.
Landfill territories (including illegal ones) occupy more than 230 hectares. This factor also negatively affects the wildlife of the Voronezh region.
Voronezh Reserve
To protect the environment and preserve flora and fauna in the region, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are organized. Unique places are protected, and animals of the Voronezh region listed in the Red Book are taken under special control.
To protect the beaver and preserve its number in 1923, the State Voronezh Reserve was organized. Today it is complex, its area has increased to 31 thousand hectares. On its territory - more than 57 species of mammals. Two animals are listed in the Red Book of Russia. This is a Russian desman (which, incidentally, has lived in this territory for more than 30 million years) and a giant evening party.
In the reserve, the number of hedgehogs is restored after fatal frosts.
Also engaged in the restoration of the population of hare and white hare. The initial task - the care of the inhabitants of the beaver ponds - in the reserve has long been dealt with. The beaver was propagated and settled in many parts of the country.
The reserved places of the Voronezh region
In the valley of the Usman river, the Usman forest is located, which is attractive in the animal world because there are no people on its territory. Largely due to this, the animals of the Voronezh region, listed in the Red Book, escaped complete extinction.
A unique animal - the Russian desman - lives in the Khopersky Nature Reserve, in the Khoper River Valley. Its area is two times smaller than the Voronezh Reserve. On its territory, in addition to preserving desman, they also breed sika deer and bison brought from different parts of our country.
In the Voronezh region, nine wildlife sanctuaries are organized. Hunting is allowed on their territory. Many natural monuments, as well as natural complexes created by human hands.
Along with animals, a whole group of plants is also closely guarded by the authorities. Regular measures are taken to protect nature and improve the culture of being in the forests. Propaganda is being conducted against water and air pollution. Numerous environmental measures are being taken to prevent the extinction of rare species in the animal world.
The advent of the Red Book
Over the past two decades, humanity, for various reasons, has destroyed more than 200 species of animals. And in the middle of the XX century, scientists seriously thought about the conservation of animals and plants on earth.
The very appearance of the Red Book originates with the formation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 1948. Zoologists, botanists and ecologists of the whole world have compiled, later published, lists of animals and plants that are on the verge of extinction. Since this was a warning of danger, both color and name were chosen accordingly. So the first Red Book appeared.
For each species, a population growth strategy was developed.
All pages of the Red Book are multi-colored. Each color indicates at what stage this or that species is:
- Red color denotes animals or plants whose danger of extinction is especially great in the near future.
- On the yellow pages there are animals whose numbers are steadily declining, and in the very near future human intervention will be required to save them.
- White pages speak of the rarest species in the world.
- Green pages are occupied by animals and plants, whose population is already safe, they have already been saved.
- Gray color was reserved for little-known and unknown species.
Red Book in the Voronezh region
In the Soviet Union, the first Red Book was published 30 years after the creation of the international Red Book. And in Russia she went to print in 2001.
The Red Book of the Voronezh region, created in 2008, contains rare and endangered species of plants and animals. Some species are so unique that they live only on the territory of local reserves. The book depicts the animals themselves of the Red Book of the Voronezh region, a description of their behavior and habitats are also presented. The first volume contains only plants, lichens and mushrooms. In the second - animals (a total of 384 species). Some animals of the Voronezh region, listed in the Red Book, are also in the Red Book of Russia.
List of endangered and extinct animals of the Voronezh region
Probably disappeared (with the designation 0) are:
- 8 species of fish (Azov beluga, Russian and Black Sea-Azov sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, Black Sea-Azov herring, Russian fastfruit, star-shaped button head and Black Sea trout);
- 5 species of birds (steppe tirushka, common curlew, steppe kestrel, braid and swivel warbler).
A greater number of endangered animals, they are assigned category 1:
- 2 species of fish (common minnow, common sculpin);
- 15 species of birds (avdotka, black stork, osprey, field and steppe harrier, Buzzard, steppe eagle, small and large spotted spotted eagle, burial ground, saker, peregrine falcon, strept, steppe lark, eagle owl)
- 2 types of reptiles (patterned snake, steppe viper).
Dangerous species with declining populations are identified by category 2:
- 3 species of fish (sterlet, shawl Azov-Black Sea, bersh);
- 8 species of birds (piskulka, magpie, magpie, hollow, bluefin, snake-eater, falcon, brown owl, clintukh);
- 2 species of mammals (dressing, Russian desman).
Rare animals are listed in the Red Book as category 3:
- 3 types of fish (carp, whitefin gudgeon, common fish);
- 2 species of amphibians (gray toad, grass frog);
- 26 species of birds (gray goose, whooper swan, small gull, white-cheeked tern, small tern, stilt, herbalist, bastard, large spindleworm, white stork, common beetle, European tuvik, dwarf eagle, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, common kestrel, gray crane, bustard, field horse, millet, black-faced and gray shrike, bald-headed stone, yellow, small and gray-cheeked grebe);
- 7 species of mammals (river otter, mink, steppe polecat, gigantic supper, small cutter, common mole, common squirrel);
- 5 types of reptiles (copper flock, common copper flock, viviparous lizard, Nikolsky viper, swamp turtle).
Not just a book
To save the animal and plant world, its harmonious development, only one Red Book is not enough. The efforts of all people, the entire population of the planet, are needed to mitigate the environmental situation.
And in order to reduce environmental pollution, not only in the Voronezh region, but throughout the world, it is necessary to resolve the increasingly acute issue of waste management.
