A new specially protected natural territory (SPNT) and natural monument, "Argarakanskaya Cave," has been established in the Kachugsky District of the Irkutsk Region. The regional Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology announced this on its website.
"The 'Argarakanskaya Cave' is located in the northern part of the Onot Upland, between the Angarakan River and its right tributary, the Marikta River, 69 km southeast of the village of Kachug. The natural monument includes a cave with a passage length of over 8.5 km and a depth of up to 57 meters," the statement says.
Comprehensive environmental assessments conducted by specialists have shown the importance of protecting the unique natural complex of the karst cave and related landforms.
Three rare animal species listed in the Red Book of the Irkutsk Region have been identified in the new natural monument:the long-fingered bat, Ikonnikov's bat, and the greater horseshoe bat.
"These species are highly sensitive to changes in the environment, and protecting their habitat is crucial for maintaining the region's biodiversity," said Sergey Nesterov, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Irkutsk Region.
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