«CURRENT EVENTS»

HOW TO PROTECT MIGRATING GAZELLE:
EXPERTS CONFER AT DAURSKY BIOSPHERE RESERVE

On June 3-5, 2002, Daursky Biosphere Reserve held a meeting to discuss trans-border conservation of the migrating Gazelle (Procopara gurarossa) flock and restoration of this population in the Baikal Region. Experts from Mongolia, China and Russia attended. The meeting was initiated by Doctor Fred Baerzelman, manager of the WWF’s Large Herbivore Program (LHI), and organized by the Russian Committee for UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program and by Daursky Reserve.

Gazelle experts and representatives of international ecological organizations and PNAs exchanged information on the efforts of their three countries to ensure Gazelle conservation. They defined specific ways of cooperating and exchanging information during the migration of large gazelle groups across national borders. These measures will be spelled out in detail at the 4^th session of the Joint Committee of the international Daursky Reserve in September 2002 in Chita.

As a result of Gazelle migration from Mongolia to the Baikal Region, groups of gazelles settled in the Chita Oblast in early 2001. By November 2001 there were between 580 and 750 head of gazelle, including 400 animals that settled in the vicinity of the Daursky Reserve, mainly in its protected zone. By calving time in 2002, the number of the gazelle living in the reserve’s vicinity was 280-300 individuals. Over the next nine months these numbers decreased as a result of illegal game shooting. During the above-mentioned migration period and beginning in September 2001 unprecedented measures were taken to protect these gazelles.

For eight straight months, the largest herd was guarded by men who followed them in cars far outside the reserve borders. The groups used radio direction-finding. Security guards patrolled the steppes of Onokonsky and Borskinsky districts whose area is several times that of the reserve and its protected zone. For the last eight months (starting in September 2001) the reserve conducted 83 stationary watches, around 40 long (1-4 day) raids and around 50 short raids (less than 24 hours). The raid groups were on duty for more than 3,000 hours total. As a result of the raids, the guards apprehended 12 poachers (4 cars), who had shot 12 gazelle. All the offences were brought to justice. Additionally, in 4 cases illegal hunting of gazelle was prevented and the offenders were punished.

Financial support for these protection activities was provided by state and non-government conservation organizations, by WWF, the LHI Program, and the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Russia (Agricultural Department). However, it is almost impossible to increase the population of a small group of animals vulnerable to poaching with operative measures only. It is necessary to implement a program of Gazelle population restoration in the Baikal Region. Such a program is being developed by Daursky Reserve, and some of the measures envisaged should be approved in 2002.

Population Restoration

The plan for 2002 includes fencing in the gazelle habitat area in the isthmus between the Torayskiye Lakes. This will make it easier to protect the animals and will promote the growth of the population group (120-130 head of gazelle). The reserve will later build two more large enclosures and establish a game reserve for semi-free gazelle breeding. During the first two to three years, gazelle kids (100-150 head each year) will be delivered to the game reserve from Mongolia.

The plan is to create a matrix head of livestock at Daursky Reserve’s game nursery. Each year some young animals will be released into free habitats. Together with efficient protection and public campaigns, these measures will help increase the Gazelle population number from 1,000 to 1,500 head of livestock over 4-5 years and promote gazelle settlement in two districts of the Chita Region, which means that the species population will be restored within a significant part of its historical habitat in the Baikal Region.

These activities will all be carried out within the reserve’s protected (buffer) zone and in the biosphere area of co-operation.

V.Y. Kirilyuk,
Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve

A.A.Luschekina,
Russian Committee
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program

<< | contents | top | >>