Stepnoi Nature Sanctuary
Stepnoi State Nature Sanctuary | |
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Russian: государственный природный заказник "Степной" | |
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Location | Astrakhan Oblast |
Nearest city | Astrakhan |
Coordinates | 45°55′N 46°46′E / 45.917°N 46.767°ECoordinates: 45°55′N 46°46′E / 45.917°N 46.767°E |
Website | Official Reserve Webpage, in Russian |
Stepnoi State Nature Sanctuary (Russian: государственный природный заказник "Степной") (also Stepnoy Nature Reserve) is a protected area located in Liman district of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_2020-02_4.jpg/220px-%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_2020-02_4.jpg)
The sanctuary was declared in 2000 to ensure maintenance of unique natural complex of Stipa steppe providing habitat for saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica) and a number of other endangered species of animals and plants.[1] The sanctuary covers an area of 109.4 thousands of hectares.[2] The monitoring program started in 2004 showed that the sanctuary is an important territory for the survival of the critically endangered saiga antelope.[3][4] Saigas inhabit the sanctuary and the nearby regions of Kalmykia throughout the year. Stepnoi sanctuary provides well-protected territory for both rut and calving of saigas. Several artesian wells within the sanctuary serve as waterholes and mineral licks for saiga.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_2020-02_9.jpg/220px-%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_2020-02_9.jpg)
The role of these wells lacking human disturbance becomes especially important during the calving period when pregnant females and females with newborn calves are not able to move long distances.[5] These waterholes are regularly visited by saiga antelopes from spring to late autumn.[5][6] Stepnoi sanctuary also provides important habitat for many endangered and locally rare bird species such as steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), demoiselle crane (Grus virgo), black-winged pratincole (Glareola nordmanni), little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), etc [2][1][7].
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b "О ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОМ ПРИРОДНОМ ЗАКАЗНИКЕ АСТРАХАНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ "СТЕПНОЙ" (с изменениями на: 01.09.2017), Постановление Правительства Астраханской области от 26 февраля 2007 года №65-П". docs.cntd.ru. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ^ a b "Степной | ООПТ России". oopt.aari.ru. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ^ А.А., Лущекина; Т.Ю., Каримова (2018). "Особенности пространственного размещения и этологической структуры популяции сайгака на территории заказника "Степной" (астраханская область)". Экосистемы: экология и динамика. 2 (1).
- ^ А.А., Лущекина; Т.Ю., Каримова; М.Ю., Дубинин; Н.Ю., Арылова; В.М., Неронов (2013). "Современное состояние и перспективы сохранения сайгака в Северо-Западном Прикаспии". Аридные экосистемы. 19 (2 (55)). ISSN 1993-3916.
- ^ a b Gilev, A.; Karenina, K. (2015–2016). "The significance of artesian wells for saigas within the Stepnoi Sanctuary, Astrakhan region" (PDF). Saiga News. 20: 19–21.
- ^ Gilev, Andrei; Karenina, Karina (2019). "Sex and age composition of saiga groups near the artesian reservoir in the Stepnoi Reserve, Astrakhan region in the autumn of 2018" (PDF). Saiga News. 24.
- ^ "Why Do Steppes Need Artesians?". SCIENCE First Hand. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- Nature reserves in Russia
- 2000 establishments in Russia
- Geography of Astrakhan Oblast