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Viable wildlife
populations |
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The relative biodiversity of Yamal
on a global scale is insignificant, but does include some rare and
ecologically vulnerable species. About 10 species of birds and small
mammals (and seven species of vascular plants) are included in the
Red Book (Chernov 1997), and it seems that none are listed due to
being understudied. Substantial populations of terrestrial wildlife
still exist (Dobrinskii 1997), although some fur-bearing species
are subject to hunting and trapping, both licit and illicit. Pelt
output can allow a very rough measure of population dynamics and
harvest statistics from 1962 to 1988 are provided by Vilchek (1992)
for wild (not farmed) arctic fox, fox, ermine, wolf, squirrel, otter,
wolverine, sable, muskrat and hare. Data for brown bear and moose
(both very rare on the tundra), and reindeer are available for the
period 1975-84. Polar bear and walrus may come ashore in places
in late summer but are protected (Chernov 1997). Three types of
ptarmigan or grouse (Lagopus spp.) occur, along with wild ducks
and geese, and these are hunted for sport and game by non-Native
and Native populations, respectively. Raptors comprise a variety
of owls, eagles, hawks, all of which are common in the tundra zone
except the peregrine falcon (Chernov 1997). In the years following
microtine peaks, when raptors peak, Nenets typically kill a great
many eagles in an attempt to control predation on reindeer calves
(M.N. Okotetto, pers. comm.). |
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The pelt output trends for some mammals
reveal steep declines. For example, the number of arctic fox pelts
produced between 1962-64 ranged from 23324 to 32406. In 1988 the
number was 4334. Others, such as wolverine, vary greatly - from
a high of 148 in 1969 to a low of 7 as recently as 1983 - with no
clear pattern (Vilchek 1992). The dangers of using such data to
estimate actual wildlife populations are well-known (cf. Usher and
Wenzel 1987). Nonetheless, I simply wish to demonstrate that the
full suite of indigenous wild animals has survived in the context
of reindeer herding for several centuries, despite increasingly
intense hunting, trapping, fishing and industrial pressures from
non-Nenets in the last several decades. |
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Wolves (Canis lupus albus) are distributed
everywhere, but population densities are somewhat higher on the
so-called 'southern' tundra (central Yamal) compared to the 'northern'
tundra (northernmost Yamal) and the forest-tundra. Adult animals
are good sized, with males averaging 40 kg and females 36.6 kg.
The only consistently larger ones belong to the North American subspecies
C. l. occidentalis (Korytin et al. 1995). Hunting from helicopters
peaked after WWII (413 animals taken 1948-58), but then eased up
and populations had recovered by the 1970's. The total population
for the Yamal-Nenets Region was recently estimated to be about 500
wolves, with densities ranging from about 0.7 individuals per 1000
km2in the forest-tundra to 1.5/10002km in the tundra (Korytin et
al. 1995). The majority of animals depend on the reindeer for their
sustenance and therefore follow the latter's annual migration to
a great extent. But for many in the far north and along the coast
ptarmigan are also important in their diet. Average pack size is
6.5-7.5 animals with dens not closer than 15 km to each other. |
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Although wolverines also range all
over Yamal Peninsula, population densities are much lower than wolves,
as is the case elsewhere in the circumpolar North. They are slightly
more numerous in the southern tundra and forest-tundra. The density
for the region is estimated to be only 0.05 individuals per 1000
km²(Korytin et al. 1995). They sometimes prey on reindeer,
taking only weakened/sick adults or calves, but are so rare that
Nenets do not consider them a threat to the herds. More common is
for them to feed on carcasses left by wolves, though they also prey
on smaller mammals and birds and consume hoards of berries in season.
When they are hunted or trapped, it is usually by non-Nenets seeking
their extremely valuable pelts. |
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The arctic fox is considered to be
particularly at risk. In the early phases of intensive gas field
development, 13% of dens were substantially or totally destroyed
during the construction of roads, facilities, and quarries, in addition
to uncontrolled off-road traffic by tracked vehicles. Since then
the pace of development has increased substantially, as has poaching
by crew workers, and there is concern for the long-term viability
of the central Yamal population (Dobrinskii and Sosin 1995). In
addition to wild mammals, each year many Nenets-owned reindeer and
tons of fish are taken illegally by non-Natives (Forbes pers. obs.;
Golovnev and Osherenko 1999; L. Okotetto, pers. comm., Panaevsk
Sovkhoz, Yamal Peninsula, March 1999). |
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