During winter counting, 23 groups of bison were observed with a total number of 413 individuals. As EcoTourism Expert came to know, senior researcher at the Caucasus Nature Reserve Sergey Trepet said the growth of the number of bison had been observed since the 2000s. It slowed down only in the last three years, which is associated with the fact that the reserve has reached its capacity.
According to the official data, today more than 1,100 bison live in the territory of the reserve. During the survey, the main wintering areas of animals and territories where bison appear sporadically were examined: Mount Armovka and the Skird ridge, Bambaki massif and the Burianisty «Weedy» ridge, Sergiev Gai ridge, Mount Akhtsarkhva, and the Lake Range.
Representatives of the reserve emphasized that bison from year to year occupy the same specific areas of the slopes of mountain ranges, and use them depending on the snow conditions. This indicates the tradition of this phenomenon, about the stability and well-being of the population. At the same time, bison continue to find new places for wintering, sometimes unexpected, as on the Lake Range, or sometimes quite suitable, as on the top of Akhtsarhva or on the slopes of Armovka. The pioneers in the development of new wintering are males, and if a suitable place is found, then next year a rather large mixed herd will winter at that place.
Blogs
