LARGE CARNIVORES IN THE GORGES OF KOL’TSEVAYA AND KYRGAULDY (THE ILE-ALATAU MOUNTAINS) Bizhanova N., Toitanova A.
al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
nazy_explorer@mail.ru
In June 2017, field observations of the Kol’tsevaya and Kurguldy Gorges were conducted to
determination the presence of large carnivores. According to the inspectors of the Ile-Alatau National Park,
Bobekbayev D.N. and Kystykbayev M.M., the Tien Shan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) and the
Turkestan lynx (Lynx lynx isabellinus) occupy the gorges.
During field observations, the data were collected mainly by a survey method. Information on the
presence/absence of species, their abundance and breeding was obtained from the inspectors controlling the
area of our study.
During survey of the Kol’tsevaya Gorge, from ungulates there were found trails of the Siberian roe
deer (Capreolus pygargus), the red deer (Cervus elaphus), from carnivores – the Eurasian badger (Meles meles). Due to the short period of observation time, traces of large carnivorans in the gorge during research
were not found.
When investigating the Kyrgauldy Gorge, traces of the maral, roe deer, wild boar (Sus scrofa), and
badger were found; among large carnivores, footsteps of the female Tien Shan brown bear with two cubs
were examined. During the period from January to June 2017, the brown bear was caught on camera traps in
the Kyrgauldy Gorge (Data provided by the Department of CRAW, Ile-Alatau National Park).
Thus, among large carnivores, the brown bear and lynx occur in the gorges of Kol’tsevaya and
Kyrgauldy.
Field research in these regions is carried out on a stationary basis. According to the data obtained from
the conducted survey, it became clear that the abundance of Tien Shan brown bear in the Kyrgauldy Gorge is
relatively stable, which makes it possible to deeply study the biology and ecology of this subspecies in this
gorge using camera traps.
Field survey was conducted under the leadership of Researcher of Scientific Research Department –
Userbayeva S.A., together with the Head of Department – Zhaparkulov T.M.
Scientific supervisors: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Saparov K.A., PhD in Biological Sciences, Leading Researcher of Institute of zoology Grachev Yu.A.