Despite extreme temperatures, rangers employed by Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural and Wildlife Assets (FPWC) with support from World Land Trust (WLT) continued to monitor wildlife throughout the winter of 2013/14 in the Caucasian Wildlife Refuge.
Temperatures plummeted to -27 degrees centigrade and at high altitudes there was up to three metres of snow. But, despite limited visibility, there were regular sightings of Bezoar Goats throughout the winter.
Whereas a year ago in 2012, rangers would record 23 individuals at the most in one herd during the mating season, by the end of November 2013 a herd of 40 individuals headed by a huge Bezoar buck had been recorded. Bezoar Goats are now seen just 500-1,500 metres from the ranger station. They are now bold enough to come down to the river to drink water and even come close to the Urtsadzor Eco-Training Centre, which was inaugurated in 2013.
More wolves were seen during the winter: wolf populations are a sensitive issue as they sometimes attack domestic animals. Meanwhile, an unwelcome surprise in January came from a husk (the collective in this instance) of hares, short of food, attracted by the newly planted saplings. On the advice of WLT, FPWC rangers created mesh tree guards for the trees but the hungry hares did manage to get to some of them before the saplings were protected.
Bearded Vulture, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vultures, Cinereous Vultures and many Chukars were among the birds recorded in the period from October 2013 to February 2014. There were also sightings of Grey Partridges.
The rangers continue to patrol the area round the clock and later in the year FPWC will hire a fifth ranger for better protection of territories. No poaching was recorded: during heavy winters hunters avoid the mountains for fear of avalanches.
For a fuller report of ranger activities in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, see Wildlife monitoring continues through the Caucasian winter »
Saving Armenia’s Leopard
Saving Armenia’s Leopard, a conservation project developed by WLT in partnership with FPWC, is in a strong position to win a conservation grant of €30,000 (approximately £25,000). The grant will be decided by an online poll organised by the European Outdoor Conservation Association between 17-31 March 2014. Saving Armenia’s Leopard is ahead in the poll after the first week of voting, but we still need to keep those votes coming in.
Click the Vote Now button and you will be directed to the voting page of the EOCA website. Scroll down through the list of projects to find Saving Armenia’s Leopard - and then please vote.
People can only register one vote, so please ask your friends, family and colleagues to vote as well.
Multiple votes from the same IP address (ie most offices) may not be counted so please vote from a home computer if possible.
More about Saving Armenia’s Leopard »
More information
WLT provides funding for rangers in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge from the Keepers of the Wild appeal. WLT is also raising funds for habitat conservation in the South Caucasus with a special appeal, Save the Caucasian Leopard.