Features of seasonal migrations and wintering of epy elks (Alces alces) in the Kuznetsk-Salair mountain region

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of elks seasonal migrations in the Kuznetsk-Salair mountain region, where a largely independent population of the species has developed. Its core is located in the administrative boundaries of the Kemerovo region. In snowless and little snow periods, elks are diffusely located in forest areas of the region. In the Kuznetsk-Salair mountain region, seasonal migrations of moose are caused by the need to move from the snowy slopes and foothills of the Kuznetsky Alatau, the Gornaya Shoria, and the Salairsky ridge to the little snowy slopes of the eastern exposition, to the steppe and forest-steppe parts of the Kuznetsk Basin and the Mariinsky-Tisulsky forest-steppe areas. In some places, these migrations are cross-border in nature, affecting the administrative territories of the Altai and Krasnoyarsk Regions, the Republics of the Gorny Altai and Khakassia, and the Novosibirsk and Tomsk Regions. After the depression of the beginning of the last century, up to 24 winter camps were formed when the elk reappeared on the territory of the Kemerovo region (Kuzbass). Local animals from the Kuznetsk Alatau and Gornaya Shoria and animals from the adjacent areas of the Altai, Novosibirsk, and Tomsk regions migrated regularly to these sites. At the same time, a part of elks from the Kuzbass southern regions migrated to the territory of Altai and Khakassia. In the 1960s and 1980s, the elk winter sites were clearly localized, up to 300-500 animals were concentrated in the largest of them. In the Kemerovo region, a system of regional specially protected natural areas (SPNA) was created. In the 1990s, in the period of the decline in the number of elks, about 15 winter sites remained. And since the 2000s, many wintering sites have become diffuse, seasonal migrations have changed. Currently, with the exception of 4 large sites, in the Kuznetsk Basin, most elks do overwinter in small herds from 2-3 to 20-30 head. They are dispersed in forest areas with low snow cover, well protected or difficult to access for snowmobile transport.