An expedition to study forest reindeer took place in the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve

The expedition to the habitats of forest reindeer in the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve has ended. Researchers obtained new photo and video materials from the life of rare ungulates. This was reported on the website of the joint directorate of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve and the Shushensky Bor National Park.

“Expedition 2023 lasted ten days. During this time, about 200 km were covered on horseback, the main survey routes and also new areas were examined,” the report says.

Employees of the joint directorate and representatives of the Khakass Republican Branch of the Russian Geographical Society took part in the work.

During the expedition, work was also carried out to maintain camera traps installed near the deer watering hole. Animals were recorded at watering holes regularly in all seasons of the year, with the exception of winter, in small groups in one frame. New information from the devices has expanded the archive of observations of the protected group of forest reindeer.

“Currently, the number of forest reindeer in the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve is estimated at 40 individuals,” the report says.

According to the reserve's data published in 2020, since the 2000s. The number of rare animals in the territory of this protected area was assessed as consistently low and ranged from 25 to 35 individuals.

As the report says, participants in the recent expedition had no visual encounters with forest reindeer. This may be due to bad weather, as there were rains with thunderstorms and strong winds every day, and on one day there was even hail. In addition, in the expedition area, the researchers noted the presence of bears - on the approach to the deer watering hole, they saw a clubfoot, which, noticing them, moved away.

Observations of the forest reindeer group began from the moment the reserve was organized. Places suitable for this animal to live are difficult to access, so it was not always possible to organize systematic research.

“Whenever possible, we carried out visual surveys, including using aviation methods, and recorded traces of vital activity. These data made it possible to characterize the protected area and optimize the monitoring system. Since 2015, observations of the group have been carried out annually, and camera traps are constantly operating in the goletz zone,” the directorate noted.

Forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus valentinae) is a vulnerable species belonging to the relict fauna, listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Reindeer is one of the smallest species of ungulates inhabiting the territory of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve; it is found sporadically in the upper mountain belt. The species was discovered on the territory of the reserve immediately after the creation of the protected area as a result of an aerial survey.