What animals are in the forest. What animals live in the surrounding forests of the village of Bolshaya Kosul? Far Eastern, or Amur leopards

Synopsis of a thematic conversation for children 6-7 years old "What animals live in the forest?"

Author: Botvenko Svetlana Gennadievna, musical director of MBDOU "Kindergarten No. 27", Kamen - on - Ob, Altai Territory

Cognitive conversation for children 6-7 years old "What animals live in the forest?"

Target:
Arouse interest, deliver a joyful mood when getting acquainted with wild animals.
Tasks:
Expand ideas about the features of appearance, life manifestations of wild animals and adaptation to the environment.
Activate the attention and memory of children.
Leading:
Guys, today I will tell you about wild animals: their appearance, where they live, what they eat.

Do you recognize this animal?
The ears of the hare are long, and the tail is fluffy and short. The hind legs are longer than the front. During the jump, he throws forward first long hind legs, and then short front ones. The hare easily runs up the hill, and rolls head over heels from the top. The hare has sharp teeth with which, like scissors, he cuts the bark from the trees. During the day, hares sleep, hiding in the thicket of the forest: under bushes in a hole. Hares do not make a hole and do not collect food. In autumn, the hare changes its gray summer coat for a white, warm and fluffy one. That's all winter preparation. It hides from the winter cold, burrowing into the fluffy snow under a bush. Fleeing from the chase, the hare confuses the tracks, dodges, makes huge jumps to the side in order to knock the fox or wolf off the trail.
The hare is a defenseless animal. The only salvation is fast legs, so he flees from enemies.
Leading:
Now answer my questions. What does a bunny look like? How does a hare prepare for winter? Why does a hare change color for the winter? How does a hare escape from enemies?
Leading:
You have seen this animal in drawings, in cartoons, in the forest.

The muzzle of the hedgehog is small, with an elongated nose, all covered with short gray hairs. Black, like beads, eyes, but the hedgehog sees badly, but his scent is excellent. The paws of the hedgehog are short with small claws. On his back he wears a hedgehog with prickly needles. They save him from enemies. The hedgehog will curl up into a prickly ball, bristle its sharp needles - try - eat it!
The hedgehog does not stock up for the winter. By winter, the hedgehog prepares a mink for itself and covers it with dry, fallen leaves. The hedgehog sleeps in a mink until spring.
Leading:
What does a hedgehog look like? What helps him escape from enemies? What is the hedgehog's home called? How does a hedgehog insulate its hole? What does a hedgehog do in winter?
Leading:
Have you ever seen a squirrel?

The squirrel is a wonderful, graceful, agile animal. In spring and summer, the fur coat for squirrels is reddish-golden, this color is more suitable for the revived spring nature, for the golden bark of pine trunks. By winter, the fur becomes silver-gray, thick, warm. The squirrel has a magnificent fluffy tail. The tail not only decorates and warms the squirrel on rainy days. He helps her jump.
Having fluffed out its tail, as if opening a parachute, the squirrel easily and freely flies from branch to branch, from tree to tree. The squirrel takes care of its tail, cleans it. In wet weather, it hides in the nest so as not to soak and spoil it. The squirrel has nimble black eyes, large, curved, very sharp teeth, so it easily cracks hard nuts and peels cones. On the paws are tenacious claws that help her deftly grab onto branches and jump from tree to tree. The squirrel often winters in a deep hollow of an old tree, sometimes it adapts last year's nest of a magpie or a crow for its apartment. Squirrel is a very good hostess, neat and thrifty. At the end of summer, he stocks up: he fills his pantries with ripe nuts, mushrooms, acorns and cones.
Leading:
What does a squirrel look like? What is the name of a squirrel's home? What stocks of protein are preparing for the winter?
Leading:
She is smarter than all the animals
She has a red coat on. (A fox)

The fox is an agile and cautious animal. Lives in the forest, during the day hides in a deep hole, which he arranges in a dense forest, often on a sandy slope of a stream or river overgrown with dense bushes. Goes hunting at night. Eats beetles, frogs, lizards, searches for nests of field mice, destroys nests of birds. Hunts for hares and water rats, can catch a young duck near the stream. When the berries ripen, the fruits ripen, the chanterelle regales them with pleasure.
The fox's fur is reddish with a golden tint, the tail is long and fluffy, the muzzle is elongated, the ears are large, erect, the legs are slender, thin. The fox has very fine hearing and a keen sense of smell.
Leading:
What does a fox look like? What is the name of the fox's home?
You all recognize this beast.

The wolf has a thick, hard coat, its ears are alert, its eyes glow with green lights. Wolves see well even at night, hear the slightest rustle, feel a subtle smell. The tail of the wolf is large, fluffy. When the beast goes to bed right on the snow, he covers his nose and paws with his magnificent tail. Each wolf has its own unique voice, and by voices they recognize each other from afar. Wolves do not just howl at the moon, they convey with their howl that the forest area is already occupied by their pack. Wolves hunt in packs. There is a leader in a pack of wolves. This is the strongest, smartest and most experienced wolf. Other wolves obey him. The whole pack of wolves hunt large animals - deer, elk, wild boars.
During the day, wolves hide in their lair, which they choose in the most remote places, or, curled up in a ball, doze motionless in the snow. Thick and dense coat protects them well from frost.
Wolves do not stock up for the winter, their strong legs and sharp teeth will help them survive the cold.
Why do wolves howl? What does a wolf look like? Who becomes the leader of the wolf pack? Who do wolves prey on?
Leading:
Who are we talking about? Huge, dressed in a warm brown coat, clumsy in appearance. (children's answers)

Of course it's a bear. Although the bear seems clumsy, it runs fast, can make big jumps, deftly climbs trees, swims well. The bear has a large head, a furry, short neck, small eyes, he sees poorly, but his sense of smell and hearing are excellent. The bear loves to pick berries, mushrooms, catch chicks, small animals, destroys bird nests, anthills: he will dig it out, and then stick his long tongue in there, which the ants will immediately stick to. Bear - once and swallow them all at once. But the most favorite delicacy is sweet bee honey. He will find a bee nest in the hollow of an old tree, put his paw into it, pull out fragrant honeycombs and eat all the honey, and bee stings are nothing to the clubfoot. A thick fur coat saves them from their stings. By autumn, the bear eats heavily in order to accumulate fat for the long winter. The bear diligently and skillfully prepares his lair: he covers it with fallen leaves, soft fragrant needles, dry moss, bark of young Christmas trees.
In late autumn, the bear goes to his soft bed. His sleep will last until ringing streams, until the spring sun.
Leading:
What does a bear look like? What does a bear eat? Bear's favorite treat? What is the bear's home called? How does a bear hibernate?
And now I will check what you remember from the conversation.
Word game.
Clap your hands when you hear a word suitable for a hare (hedgehog, squirrel, fox, wolf, bear).
Words:
Redhead, lair, galloping, small, fluffy, prickly, burrow, howling, white, angry, hollow, lair, winding, strong, long-eared, clumsy, climbing, hunting.
The game "The Fourth Extra"
Highlight the extra word, explain your choice:
Fox, bear, hare, woodpecker;
Magpie, squirrel, crossbill, titmouse;
wolf, hedgehog, horse, a fox;
Hare, cat, rabbit, dog;
Leading:
I am pleased with you, you listened to me attentively and remembered a lot.

Forests maintain the ecological balance on the planet. Shrubs and trees growing in them emit oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. Also, the forest is important for many species of animals that find food and shelter in it.

Characteristics of the forest fauna

Forests make up about 30% of the total land area of ​​the Earth. They are of incredible value to life on the planet. Forests serve as a carbon store and play an important role in the fight against. They act as a watershed and are the source of many of the raw materials on which people depend. Probably supports the most . For example, a small patch of rainforest can be home to millions of insects, birds, animals, and plants. There are three main types of forest that make up the forest biome. These are tropical forests, temperate and boreal forests (also called).

boreal forests

Badger

A predator from the marten family is found in almost the entire territory of Eurasia, with the exception of Scandinavia. The body length of the animal varies between 60-90 cm, and the average weight is 7-13 kg. Badgers live in high, dry areas, near water bodies or marshes. They arrange deep burrows with nests on the slopes of banks or ravines. The source of food is insects, small animals, as well as seeds, fruits and berries. By winter, the badger fattens up and hibernates. Life expectancy in nature is 10-12 years. Natural enemies are bears, wolves and lynxes.

Sable

The home for the animal is the Eurasian taiga. Sable settles in forests where cedars and firs grow. The largest population is currently preserved only in Russia. The animal arranges its shelters on windfalls and in dense mossy forests. An adult individual weighs about one kilogram, the body length can reach more than 50 cm. Sable preys on rodents and. In winter, animals often feed on carrion. In search of food, they run 3 km a day. Sable's competitors are the Siberian weasel and ermine.

Chipmunk

Chipmunks live in the dense forests of Eurasia and North America, preferring forest edges and windbreaks. The body size without a tail is 18-25 cm, weight - 50-150 g. Animals are active, and at night they sleep. Chipmunks live alone, each individual builds a cozy shelter for himself. Near the dwelling there are small pantries with supplies. The source of nutrition is seeds, berries, mushrooms, nuts and herbs. Under natural conditions, chipmunks live no more than three years. The animal has many natural enemies: bear, sable, squirrel and fox. Birds of prey and snakes are also dangerous.

Ussurian tiger

Which lives in the south of the Far East. The Ussuri tiger is the largest subspecies of the tiger. Body length with tail is 270-380 cm, weight can reach 300 kg. Despite their impressive size, tigers, like everyone else, move almost silently. The climate of the Far East is quite severe, so the animal has a thick coat. The main coat color is red, except for the belly and chest. Its entire surface is covered with black stripes. Tigers live alone, marking their territory by urinating on trees. The predator most often preys on wild boars, badgers, wolves and lynxes. Tigers skillfully catch fish, do not neglect small animals - frogs, mice, birds, as well as plants and fruits. For one meal, the animal is able to eat 30 kg of meat. In the wild, tigers live for about 15 years, they have no natural enemies.

hare

Hares live in the forests of Europe, Central Asia and Western Siberia. Rusaks were artificially settled in North America, Australia, New Zealand. The body length of an adult is 57-68 cm, weight - 4-6 kg. In summer, the animal's fur has a reddish-brown hue, brightens in winter. The tips of the ears remain black throughout the year. The hare hole is a depression under the roots of trees. In summer, hares feed on herbs, cereals and legumes. In winter, they eat willow branches, tree bark, and seeds. Catching an animal is not easy, it develops a speed of 60 km / h. The average life expectancy of European hares in nature is 6-7 years. Foxes and wolves are the most dangerous.

Elk

The range of moose is extended to the forests of Eurasia, the Caucasus and North America. They choose swampy taiga, river floodplains, burnt areas and lake shores. The body length of an adult is 2.4-3.2 m, weight - 360-600 kg. The horns of males resemble a shovel, the older the individual, the more processes on the horns. Moose is. In summer, they feed on the foliage of shrubs and herbaceous plants. An important role in the process of digestion is played by branch fodder and tree bark. The elk is well adapted to life in the harsh conditions of the taiga. Life expectancy in the wild is 15-25 years. Wolves and bears are natural enemies.

Russia occupies one sixth of the land. Therefore, the number of vertebrates inhabiting Russia is huge and exceeds 1500 species. Among them:

• more than 700 species of birds;
• more than 300 species of mammals;
• over 85 reptiles;
• more than 35 species of amphibians;
• more than 350 species of representatives of freshwater fish.

Mammals of Russia

Bear

The bear is a large animal, it is considered one of the symbols of Russia.

Bear.

The brown bear is a forest animal. Very often this animal can be found in Kamchatka. The brown bear is a rather large animal, the maximum recorded weight of a male bear caught in Kamchatka was more than 600 kg.

Bear with cubs.

The brown bear can eat both plant foods and prey on other animals. More than half of his diet is plant foods: various berries, nuts, roots, and so on. Since the bear is clumsy and cannot run fast, it rarely manages to catch a deer or a roe deer. But such a giant can eat insects and their larvae, catch fish, lizards

In winter, bears hibernate until spring. To do this, they equip dens in pits or caves.

Wolf

The wolf is a beautiful predator, similar in appearance and size to the German Shepherd. Wolves are pack predators, with their devotion to the pack, they can set an example for people.

Wolf.

The main prey of the wolf is large ungulates. A pack of wolves drives a weak deer, a strong pack can even attack an elk weighing about half a ton. The leader is the first to start the meal, only after him the rest eat.

A fox

Fox - has the glory of a very cunning beast.

A fox.

Foxes are small animals. An adult fox weighs no more than 10 kilograms. They feed on small rodents, so they can often be found near human settlements, where there are more rodents.

But not only rodents make up her diet, she can hunt small birds, try to catch a hare, but it is difficult for her to do this, since hares are faster than foxes. In hunting, the fox often uses cunning, for example, it can pretend to be sleeping near a flock of partridges, and when the birds lose their vigilance, they suddenly attack.

The fox is a very curious creature. She is interested in everything new and unusual, and this often causes problems. For example, a fox can fall into a hunter's trap.

Boar

Boar are wild pigs. Boars are quite large animals, the weight of an adult boar can reach 250 kilograms. With such a mass, they can run at speeds up to 40 km / h.

Boar.

Wild boars feed on everything they find in the ground. It can be different roots, worms and insect larvae, fallen fruits, acorns, chestnuts, and so on. A boar can eat a lizard or a toad if it catches one.

Piglets of a wild boar.

If the boar feels threatened, then it becomes very dangerous. His fangs can reach 20 centimeters in length, he does not hesitate to use them.

In search of food, the wild boar performs the function of a tiller, it loosens the ground and the seeds of plants fall deeper, while their chance of sprouting increases.

Elk

Elk is a large herbivore. This animal gained fame thanks to its spade-shaped horns, they look like a plow - a tool of farmers. Therefore, since ancient times, the elk has a nickname - elk.

Elk.
Elk with big horns.

Only male moose have antlers; females do not. Every year until December, moose shed their antlers, then these antlers can be found in the forest.

Moose live in the northern latitudes of Russia, as these animals do not like heat.

Hare

The hare is a small herbivore that is considered to be cowardly. But this is fundamentally wrong, having fallen into the clutches of a predator, the hare fights off with strong hind legs. On these paws, in addition, he has large claws with which he can seriously injure the attacker, or even kill him.

Hare.

But hares avoid fights with predators, and they have only one way to do this - to quickly run away. They are able to reach speeds of up to 75 km / h if their lives are in danger. Who just does not try to hunt hares! The fox is a danger to young hares; it cannot keep up with adults. Wolves often prey on older hares. Lynxes and large eagles, ermines, wolverines and martens can attack hares.

Bunny with a bunny.

Wolverine is a predatory animal of the northern forests of Russia. Wolverine is a relative of martens, although outwardly it resembles a bear.

The wolverine can weigh up to 30 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller than males, this is where their external differences end.

It is believed that the basis of the wolverine's diet consists of carrion, which she picks up from bears and wolves. In addition, the wolverine preys on everything that it can catch. A great success for a wolverine is to catch a wounded and weakened deer of small sizes.

Beaver belongs to the rodent family. It is the largest rodent in Russia and Europe. In the world there is only one representative of rodents larger than a beaver - this is South American capybara. The weight of a beaver can reach 30 kilograms.

Often a beaver is called a "beaver", but this name is not accurate, since in the dictionary of the Ozhegov S.I. dictionary, this word is called the fur of a rodent.

The beaver leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle, spending most of its time in the water. Beavers are famous for building dams on small streams. Beavers live in burrows, if it is not possible to dig a hole, a beaver builds a hut.

Beavers are active at night, and during the day they sleep in their dwellings. Beavers feed on plant foods, they make reserves for the winter and do not leave their shelters throughout the winter.

Ermine is a small predator, no more than 40 centimeters in length. But a very aggressive and bloodthirsty animal. It lives in thickets of bushes, on the banks of water bodies, including swamps. Ermine swims well and deftly climbs trees.

The stoat preys on small rodents, but is also capable of killing prey larger than it, such as a squirrel or a rabbit.

In winter, stoats change their coat color to white so that they are more likely to go unnoticed while hunting.

Ermine in winter.

Sable is a predator, similar in shape to an ermine, but larger. The main habitat of the sable is coniferous taiga.

Sable on a branch.

Sable mainly preys on small rodents, but may attack squirrels and hares. He also preys on small birds such as capercaillie or hazel grouse.

Sable fur is very valuable, which led to its mass extermination.

Birds of Russia

As mentioned above, in Russia you can meet more than 700 species of birds.

The bullfinch is a bird slightly larger than a sparrow, the males of which are painted bright red. Female bullfinches are not at all a bright color.

Bullfinch in winter
Bullfinch in May

The diet of bullfinches consists mainly of seeds and buds of trees and shrubs, bullfinches are especially fond of mountain ash and bird cherry. Bullfinches can also eat small insects, mostly they manage to catch spiders.

In winter, bullfinches do not fly anywhere, but winter in Russia. If the winter is very cold and there is little food, then many bullfinches die. Under favorable conditions, a bullfinch can live up to 15 years.

The tit is a sparrow-sized bird. It is distinguished by a yellow breast and a blue tint on the back.

In the warm season, tits prefer to eat insects, at this time they are the real predators. But in winter they are forced to switch to plant foods.

Tits on a sunflower

With the onset of cold weather, tits move to cities, since it is easier for them to find food here. In the spring they fly back to the forests.

The woodpecker is famous for pecking trees with its beak in search of insects and their larvae. The knock from his "work" is heard for a hundred meters.

Like tits, woodpeckers have a diet that depends on the time of year. In the warm season, they eat more insects, although they can destroy the nests of small birds, eating eggs and chicks. In winter, woodpeckers switch to vegetable food.

The woodpecker's tongue is visible in the photo.

Woodpeckers instead of nests on branches hollow out hollows in trees with soft wood (alder or larch for example). This work is done mainly by the male and takes about two weeks.

The life expectancy of a woodpecker very rarely exceeds nine years.

The body length of an adult cuckoo is just over 30 cm with a mass of 190 grams, the maximum wingspan of a cuckoo reaches 65 centimeters.

Cuckoo with prey.

Cuckoos are migratory birds and for the winter they migrate to Africa and tropical latitudes of Asia.

A cuckoo chick in a forest pipit's nest.

Fish of Russia

There are more than 350 species of freshwater fish in the water bodies of Russia. Let's consider some of them.

Catfish is a real predator, not a scavenger, as is commonly believed. One of the largest freshwater fish in Russia, which is common in many reservoirs.

Catfish can hunt not only fish and crayfish. He can also attack birds, for example, here is a video about how a catfish hunts pigeons.

Catfish in the Dnieper River.

Usually catfish reach a mass of 20 kilograms with a length of 1.5 meters. But under favorable conditions, catfish can grow to the size of real giants and weigh 400 kilograms with a length of up to five meters. It's just a monster fish!

Pike is a predatory freshwater fish, the heroine of folk tales.

Usually pike grows up to one meter long and weighs no more than 10 kg, but some individuals reach a weight of up to 35 kg.

Pike hunt from ambush. They can hide in thickets for a very long time, waiting for prey. Then, with a lightning lunge, they grab the victim with their powerful jaws. There is no chance for a fish that has fallen into the mouth of a pike to free itself, since the teeth of the pike grow towards the inside of the jaw.

Zander

Pike perch is another predatory freshwater fish that is widespread in the European part of Russia. It lives only in flowing reservoirs, the water of which is rich in oxygen.

Pike perch can grow up to 120-130 centimeters, while its weight can reach up to 18 kg.

Pike perch is a very aggressive predator, but the diameter of its throat is small, so it does not attack large fish, as catfish and pike do. Its prey: bleaks, small ruffs and so on.

Beluga is the largest freshwater fish, can grow to a length of more than four meters, while weighing more than one and a half tons.

For most of their lives, beluga live in the waters of the Azov, Black and Caspian Seas. Belugas rise into the rivers only during the breeding season.

Belugas lead a solitary lifestyle. For the winter, they hibernate, before which their body is covered with a thick layer of mucus, which acts as warm clothing.

The main food of beluga is small fish, such as gobies and a variety of cyprinids, herring and other similar fish.

Carp is a very cautious fish. Carp are almost omnivorous and survive well in the most difficult conditions.

On the territory of Russia there are two types of crucian carp: gold and silver.

Crayfish

Crayfish is an aquatic animal, reaching a length of 30 centimeters. Although crayfish are usually much smaller, most often their size is 15 centimeters.

Cancer has powerful claws, and outside it is protected by a shell.

Crayfish are nocturnal predators. During the day, they hide in their shelters, it can be a hole or a secluded den in the roots of a coastal tree. At night they feed. The basis of the diet of cancer is plant food, from animal food they can get mollusks, worms, and they also do not disdain carrion.

Arctic animals of Russia

The polar bear is the ruler of the northern latitudes of Russia.

The main prey of polar bears are various types of seals, such as bearded seals and seals.

Having a huge mass, the polar bear has no natural enemies. In terms of mass, only walruses are not inferior to him, and polar bears try to bypass them.

Polar bear and walruses.

Polar bears spend almost their entire lives on drifting ice floes. Only pregnant females come to land to give birth to cubs.

The fox is an animal that looks like a fox. Lives in the arctic tundra.

Polar fox, photo: August 2014.

In winter, the color of the fox is white. But in the summer it sheds and its color becomes brown.

Arctic fox in summer.

The main prey of arctic fox in summer is lemmings. Although the arctic fox is not picky about food and can eat more than 120 species of small animals (including fish and shellfish) and more than 20 species of plants. Arctic foxes have a hard time in winter, especially if the winter is cold.

The snowy owl is the largest of all owl species. Also, this bird is called a white owl, because of its color. The wingspan of a large individual can reach 175 centimeters.

Snowy owls spend summer in the Arctic zones, and for the winter they fly to the zones of deciduous forests. Their main prey is lemmings, these are small rodents that live in the north in the tundra zone.

The polar owl tries to nest away from people.

The globe is covered with oceans, land and forests. A huge number of animals, insects and other inhabitants live in the forest. The most interesting facts about forest animals cannot leave you indifferent.

1. Wolves with tenderness and affection take care of their children. In a wolf family, 5-10 wolf cubs are usually born. And sometimes it is difficult for one mother to cope with such a brood. Here, the father of the family and the young wolves of the pack come to the rescue in raising the kids. The latter are engaged in entertainment for children.
2. The bear eats almost everything: from nuts, mushrooms and fruits to chicks, ants, fish. It is most interesting for him to hunt ants, which he does as thoughtfully as possible. Having stuck his tongue in an anthill, the bear waits for all the ants to stick around him. Then he willingly swallows.
3. Only male moor frogs are covered with blue. This process is directly related to reproduction, during which an incredible spectacle occurs.
4. Inhabitants of the bush forest, monkeys, are very similar to people. For example, by the expression of a monkey's face, you can determine the mood. So a smile is a sign of an aggressive state.

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5. A raccoon from the raccoon family is considered a wild animal and lives in the forest for no more than 7 years. But their domesticated brothers live twice as long.
6. The elk lives in the forest and is considered a herbivore.. His milk is very valuable and fatty. In terms of concentration, moose milk resembles cream, because their composition is 14% fat. Also, the moose feed product is rich in glucose. But most importantly, such milk does not sour for more than a week.
7. Each beaver has a number of amazing qualities and abilities.. A large family of these animals, due to their strength and endurance, is able to build a dwelling from improvised devices with a height of about 30 m.
8. Owls are best known for their ability to deftly hunt mice, which in turn eat a kilogram of cereal in just one season. Each representative of nocturnal birds is capable of exterminating 1000 rodents.
9. The otter is perfectly adapted to living in the aquatic environment.. In the daytime, the otter is in a hole dug on its own, and at nightfall it begins to hunt. The otter feeds on fish, crustaceans and small mammals.

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10. Wolverine is one of the most mysterious animals in Russia, which resembles in appearance a bear and a badger. The predator leads an exceptionally lonely lifestyle, not letting anyone near him. Due to its ardent aggressiveness and absolute non-tameability, the wolverine cannot be found in the zoo.
11. The Amur cat, which lives in the forest zone, grows up to a meter in length and has a beautiful unusual color.. You can distinguish it by the longitudinal stripes on the forehead of a dark and light shade. Despite the rather cute look of the cat, it is considered an extremely dangerous predator, which is not so easy to catch.

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12. The Amur tiger, listed in the Red Book and living in Primorye, is distinguished by its large weight of 300 kg and body length. The Amur tiger is resistant to low temperatures, so snow and cold are not afraid of him.
13. The peculiarity of the lynx is the gait. The lynx steps with its hind legs on the tracks of the front ones.
14. Sakhalin musk deer are currently on the verge of extinction. Animals live on the territory of Sakhalin, inhabiting the dark coniferous forest zones. Musk deer belong to the deer family, but they do not have horns. Their feature is long fangs.
15. Forest bats are considered truly brave hunters.. These little mysterious evenings can hunt not only insects, but also birds.

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From September 15 to 17, Russia celebrates one of the largest environmental holidays - the Russian Forest Days. As you know, forests are not only the lungs of the planet and a pantry of various berries, mushrooms and medicinal herbs, but also home to many amazing animals. In this regard, we are telling you about some rare animals that live in Russian forests.

1. Musk deer.

This small deer-like animal with fangs lives in the mountain coniferous forests of the Sayans, Altai, Transbaikalia and Primorye. Despite its intimidating appearance, the musk deer feeds exclusively on vegetation. However, the musk deer is remarkable not only for this, but also for its attractive smell, which lures females for mating. This smell appears due to the musk gland located in the belly of the male next to the urogenital canal.

As you know, musk is a valuable component of various medicines and perfumes. And it is precisely because of him that the musk deer often becomes the prey of hunters and poachers. Another reason why this unusual animal belongs to endangered species is the reduction in the boundaries of its range, which is associated with increased human economic activity (mainly deforestation).

One of the solutions to the problem of preserving the species in the wild is the farming of musk deer and the selection of musk from living males.

2. Japanese green dove.

This unusual bird is about 33 cm long and weighs about 300 grams and has a bright yellowish green color. It is common in Southeast Asia, but is also found in the Sakhalin region (Krillon Peninsula, Moneron Islands and the South Kuril Islands). The bird inhabits broad-leaved and mixed forests with an abundance of cherry and bird cherry trees, elderberry bushes and other plants, the fruits of which it feeds on.

The Japanese green dove is a rare species, and therefore little is known about its life. Today, scientists know that green doves are monogamous birds. They weave their nests from thin twigs and place them in trees at a height of up to 20 meters. It is believed that partners incubate eggs in turn for 20 days. And after that, helpless, downy chicks are born, who will learn to fly only after five weeks. However, pairs or flocks of green doves are rare in Russia, most often they are noticed one by one.

3. Far Eastern, or Amur leopards.

Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were much more rare cats, and their range covered a considerable territory - the eastern and northeastern parts of China, the Korean Peninsula, the Amur, Primorsky and Ussuri Territories. However, in the period from 1970-1983, the Far Eastern leopard lost 80% of its territory! The main reasons then were forest fires and the conversion of forest areas for agriculture.

Today, the Amur leopard continues to lose its territory and also suffer from food shortages. After all, roe deer, spotted deer and other ungulates that this leopard hunts are killed in huge numbers by poachers. And since the Far Eastern leopard has beautiful fur, he himself is a very desirable trophy for poachers.

Also, due to the lack of suitable food in the wild, Far Eastern leopards are forced to go in search of food in reindeer farms. There predators are often killed by the owners of these farms. And to everything else, due to the small size of the Amur leopard population, it will be very difficult for representatives of the subspecies to survive during various disasters like a fire.

However, all this does not mean that the subspecies will disappear soon. Today there are still large areas of forest that are suitable habitat for the Amur leopard. And if these areas can be preserved and protected from fires and poaching, then the population of these amazing animals in the wild will increase.

Interestingly, Far Eastern leopards are the only leopards that have been able to learn to live and hunt in harsh winter conditions. In this, by the way, they are helped by long hair, as well as strong and long legs, which allow them to catch up with prey, moving through the snow. However, Amur leopards are not only good hunters, but also exemplary family men. After all, sometimes males stay with females after mating and even help them with raising kittens, which, in principle, is not typical of leopards.

4. Alkina.

These butterflies live in the south-west of Primorsky Krai and are found along streams and rivers in mountain forests, where the fodder plant of caterpillars of the species grows - the Manchurian kirkazon liana. Most often, male butterflies fly to the flowers of this plant, and females sit in the grass most of the time. Alcinoy females tend to linger on this plant to lay their eggs on its leaves.

Today, due to the disturbance of the habitat of kirkazon and its collection as a medicinal plant, its quantity in nature is decreasing, which, of course, affects the abundance of alkinoy. In addition, butterflies suffer because of their collection by collectors.

5. Bison.

Previously, these animals were widespread on the territory of the former USSR, but by the beginning of the 20th century they had survived only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Caucasus. However, even there their numbers have been steadily declining. For example, by 1924 only 5-10 bison survived in the Caucasus. The main reasons for the reduction of bison were their extermination by hunters and poachers, as well as their destruction during hostilities.

The restoration of their numbers began in 1940 in the Caucasian Reserve, and now bison inhabit two regions in Russia - the North Caucasus and the center of the European part. In the North Caucasus, bison live in Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Ingushetia and in the Stavropol Territory. And in the European part there are isolated herds of bison in the Tver, Vladimir, Rostov and Vologda regions.

Bison have always been inhabitants of deciduous and mixed forests, but avoided vast forest areas. In the Western Caucasus, these animals live mainly at an altitude of 0.9 - 2.1 thousand meters above sea level, often leaving the glades or treeless slopes, but never moving away from the forest edges.

In appearance, the bison is very similar to its American relative - the bison. Nevertheless, it is still possible to distinguish them. First of all, the bison has a higher hump, longer horns and tail than the bison. And in the hot months, the back of the bison is covered with very short hair (it even seems that it is bald), while the bison has the same length of hair all over the body at any time of the year.

The bison is listed in the Red Book of Russia as an endangered species and today lives in many reserves and zoos.

6. Fish owl.

This species inhabits the banks of rivers in the Far East from Magadan to the Amur Region and Primorye, as well as on Sakhalin and the South Kuriles. The fish owl prefers to live in the hollows of old trees with an abundance of aquatic prey nearby, but old forests and hollow trees are often cut down, which inevitably forces these birds out of their habitats. In addition, fish owls are caught by poachers, and they often fall into traps during an attempt to pull the bait out of them. The development of water tourism on the Far Eastern rivers and, consequently, the increased disturbance of these birds gradually leads to a decrease in the number of eagle owls and prevents their reproduction. All this has led to the fact that today this species is under threat of extinction.

The fish owl is one of the largest owls in the world, as well as the largest representative of its kind. Interestingly, these birds can hunt in two different ways. Most often, a fish owl looks out for fish, sitting on a stone in the river, from the shore or from a tree hanging over the river. Noticing the prey, the eagle owl dives into the water and instantly grabs it with sharp claws. And in the case when this predator tries to catch sedentary fish, crayfish or frogs, it simply enters the water and probes the bottom with its paw in search of prey.

7. Giant evening party.

This bat, the largest in Russia and Europe, lives in broad-leaved forests on the territory from the western borders of our country to the Orenburg region, as well as from the northern borders to the Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod regions. There they settle in hollows of trees by 1-3 individuals, in colonies of other bats (usually red and small evening bats).

The Giant Vespers is a rare species, but ecologists don't know exactly what is causing their low numbers. According to the assumptions of scientists, the threat is the deforestation of broad-leaved forests. However, today there are no special measures for the protection of these animals, since it is not clear which measures will be effective.

Interestingly, these bats prey on large beetles and moths, flying over forest edges and ponds. However, analysis of blood and droppings showed that these animals also feed on small birds during migrations, however, this has never been recorded.

8. Heavenly barbel.

In Russia, in the south of Primorsky Krai (in Terneisky, Ussuriysky, Shkotovsky, Partizansky and Khasansky regions), a beetle with a bright blue color lives. It lives in deciduous forests mainly in the wood of the greenskin maple. There, the female beetle lays eggs, and after about half a month, larvae appear. They develop in wood for about 4 years, and then, in June, the larva gnaws out the “cradle” and pupates. After about 20 days, the beetle emerges from the wood and immediately begins to reproduce. On this he will spend all his strength until the end of his life, which lasts only two weeks.

The celestial barbel is listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species, the number of which is declining. According to ecologists, the reason for this is deforestation and a sharp decrease in the number of green maple.

9. Himalayan, or white-breasted bear.

The Ussuri white-breasted bear inhabits the broad-leaved forests of the Primorsky Territory, the southern regions of the Khabarovsk Territory and the southeastern part of the Amur Region. Until 1998, it was listed in the Red Book of Russia as a small species, and today it is a hunting species. However, if in the 90s its population was 4-7 thousand individuals, now this bear is on the verge of extinction (its population is up to 1 thousand individuals). The reason for this was, first of all, deforestation and mass hunting. The latter, by the way, was discussed during the international environmental forum "Nature without Borders" in Vladivostok, after which in 2006 it was decided in the Primorsky Territory to introduce restrictions on hunting the Himalayan bear during hibernation.

The white-breasted bear leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle: it gets food from trees and hides from enemies (these are mainly Amur tigers and brown bears). Almost the entire diet of this bear consists of plant foods, in particular nuts, fruits and berries, as well as shoots, bulbs and rhizomes. It also does not refuse to eat ants, insects, mollusks and frogs.

10. Black stork

A widespread, but rare species, the number of which is declining due to human economic activity, which manifests itself in the reduction of forests and the drainage of swamps. Today, the bird is found in forests from the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions to Southern Primorye. The black stork prefers to settle near water bodies in dense, old forests.

It is there, on old tall trees (and sometimes on rock ledges) that black storks build nests, which they will then use for several years. When the time comes to invite the female to the nest (around the end of March), the male fluffs up his white undertail and begins to emit a hoarse whistle. The eggs laid by the female (from 4 to 7 pieces) will be incubated by the partners in turn until after 30 days the chicks hatch from them.