Fauna of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug

A diverse fauna has formed on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. Its formation took place under the influence of territories adjacent to the district from the east and west, from the south and north. The species diversity of the animal world increases from the northern to the southern taiga and with movement from the Subpolar to the Northern Urals.

The human impact on the animal world is twofold. On the one hand, as a result of the massive penetration of oil and gas production enterprises into the taiga, extensive deforestation and forest fires, the habitat of animals is being destroyed; on the other hand, the spread of species of human satellites is noted. These species include, for example, the common gull, the common rook, the starling, the tree sparrow, the city swallow, the barn swallow, the rock pigeon and “domestic” insects. Human settlement does not affect the life cycles of these species. In rural settlements and towns of the district you can often find numerous representatives of passerines.

The proximity to human settlements and industrial facilities is also well tolerated by representatives of the Charadriiformes, stoneshanks, ruffed sandpipers, white-tailed sandpipers, horned gulls, black-headed gulls, herring and glaucous gulls that nest in the district. The process of forest exploitation and oil field development affected the number of species of many animals. There has been a steady decline in the number of waterfowl - the red-breasted goat, mallard, cow's duck, gray duck, shoveler, and sea duck; some falcon-like birds - harrier, goshawk, sparrowhawk, as well as wood grouse, curlew.

Currently, about 60 species of mammals, 223 species of birds, 6 representatives of amphibians, 4 species of reptiles, 40 species of fish and cyclostomes are found in the district. In total, about 330 species of vertebrate animals live in the district.

Malaya Sosva State Nature Reserve

Everyone mentions the Malaya Sosva River. Not surprising. After all, this place is a protected area. It has preserved nature almost unchanged. How many magnificent plants grow there and what wonderful animals live there.

The reserve was established with the aim of preserving and studying in its natural state the typical natural complexes of the middle taiga West Siberian taiga, including the genetic fund of flora and fauna. The special task of the reserve is the preservation and restoration of rare and especially valuable representatives of the flora and fauna of the region. The reserve is located almost in the central part of the Sosvinsky Ob region. Thanks to the geomorphological features of the territory, the middle taiga was formed here, while at the same latitudes of the right bank of the Ob lies the northern taiga, which is less warmly provided and productive. The Malaya Sosva River flows through the reserve. Only the middle course of the river is located in a protected area. The river is winding, with frequent rocky rifts, sandy capes, often with steep high banks and numerous tributaries.

The flora and fauna of the reserve is rich and diverse. The flora consists of 379 species of vascular plants, more than 150 species of bryophytes, and about 120 species of lichens. These are mainly widespread boreal Eurasian species. But there are many rare plants in the reserve. There are also very rare ones, listed in the Red Book of Russia: a flowering plant - leafless mullet, lichen - Lobaria pulmonata. The list of rare and endangered species of the flora of the Tyumen region includes 14 species of vascular plants of the reserve: aronia cotoneaster, Lyubka bifolia, Maryin root peony, oval, heart-shaped caches, etc. Several species of xerothermic and post-glacial relics grow on the territory of the reserve - witnesses of past eras. These plants are rare and are of great scientific value: Ural orchard, Zavadsky's dendranthema, angustifolia chickweed, speedwell, Matthiol's cortuza, cold astragalus, Siberian aster and others. The flora of the reserve is rich in medicinal, food and ornamental plants. The composition of the fauna in zoogeographical terms is typical for the West Siberian taiga zone. There are 38 species of mammals. Sable, wolverine, ermine, weasel, common squirrel, mountain hare, chipmunk, muskrat, otter, elk, deer, bear, wolf, fox are common. Arctic fox and lynx are less common. A particularly protected species is the North Asian river beaver, listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation, which is very rare in the Malaya Sosva basin. Of the smaller mammals, there are 8 species of insectivorous animals, 8 species of mouse-like rodents and 2 species of chiropterans.

180 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve, of which 62 species are vagrants, the remaining 118 are found quite regularly at nesting sites or during seasonal migrations. Specially protected rare birds nest on the territory of the reserve: white-tailed eagle, osprey, eagle owl. Golden eagle, red-breasted goose, and peregrine falcon are found relatively regularly. Siberian crane, little swan, gyrfalcon, oystercatcher, gray shrike are sometimes observed on migration.

The common amphibians are the sharp-faced frog and the Siberian salamander, and the common reptiles are the viviparous lizard.

The reservoirs are home to 13 species of fish, among which cyprinids predominate: dace, roach, ide, crucian carp. Pike and perch are considered common and numerous species.

In general, the reserve is interesting for its variety of natural objects, unique from scientific, educational and aesthetic aspects.

The reserve has a nature museum, which is the center of environmental education work in the Sovetsky district.