The current state of the wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) population size and density in Yakutia

The number of wolves has increased in recent years in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Il leads to reduce of wild ungulates and restrain of their growth. Our study is based on data from the winter route accounting for hunting animals from 2000 to 2020, data from the questionnaire method accounting for wolves from 2011 to 2020, and data from air accounting in 2009, 2013, and 2018 in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The results of the questionnaire survey of accounting for the wolves show that their population was the highest in 2011–2012 in Yakutia. Then a decline in their number followed in 2013. A gradual increase in the number of wolves took place until 2019, and then a sharp decline in 2020. The decline in the number of wolves in 2020 is observed in three zones: Aldan, North-Eastern, and Vilyuisk. A stable number of wolves is observed in the South-Western and North-Western zones of Yakutia. An increase in the number of wolves is registered in the Central zone of Yakutia. Across the Republic, the number of wolves in 2020 was 2455 individuals. The figure is lower than last year by 1,148 individuals, or 31.9 %. The average wolf population density in the Republic was 0.01 PCs./ 1000 ha of hunting grounds. The number of lone wolves also increased to 8.4 %. The dynamics of the number of wild ungulates (elk, red deer, musk deer, and roe deer), which are the wolf’s food items, goes with the same amplitude of fluctuations as the wolf. This dynamic is explained by the relationship «predator-prey». It shows the dependence of the number of wolves on the number of wild ungulates: when they decrease, their number decreases, and vice versa. With the increase in the number of wolves, the number of hares decreases sharply (in the late 1990s and from 2008 to the present time), with a decrease in their number, on the contrary, increases (from the early 2000s to the middle of the 2000s).

1. Bondarev A.Ya., Dezhkin A.V., Pavlov P.M. Volk: ocenka vozmozhnostej upravleniya resursami // Sovremenny`e problemy` prirodopol`zovaniya, oxotovedeniya i zverovodstva. Vserossijskij nauchno-issledovatel`skij institut oxotnich`ego xozyajstva i zverovodstva im. prof. B.M. Zhitkova 22–25 maya 2017 g. Sekciya 2. Biologiya i ustojchivoe ispol`zovanie oxotnich`ix zhivotny`x. Kirov, 2017. P. 151–158.

2. Shevelev I.K., Kombalin V.S. Osobo oxranyaemy`e prirodny`e territorii Irkutskoj oblasti i ix rol` v reshenii «volch`ej problemy`» // Klimat, e`kologiya, sel`skoe xozyajstvo Evrazii. Oxrana i racional`noe ispol`zovanie zhivotny`x i rastitel`ny`x resursov. Irkutsk, 2009. P. 86–90.

3. Zy`ryanov A.N., Tyurin V.A., Ognev R.Yu. Problema volka v oxotnich`em i sel`skom xozyajstve Buryatii // Klimat, e`kologiya, sel`skoe xozyajstvo Evrazii. Oxrana i racional`noe ispol`zovanie zhivotny`x i rastitel`ny`x resursov. Irkutsk, 2009. P. 116–120.

4. Kozhechkin V.V. Volki i oleni severo-zapadnoj chasti Vostochnogo Sayana // Trudy` gos. zapovednika «Stolby`». 2001. Iss. 17. P. 8–25.

5. Suvorov A.P., Aleksandrova T.A. Osobennosti regulirovaniya chislennosti volka v regionax Sibiri. 2010. URL: http://ihunter.pro/posts/strategiya-upravleniya-i-normirovanie-dobyichi/203

6. Noskov V.T. Oxotnich`i zhivotny`e Buryatii. UlanUde`, 2008. 224 p.

7. Labutin Yu.V. Geograficheskie osobennosti pitaniya volka i lisicy // Zoologicheskie problemy` Sibiri: Mat. IV sovesh. zoologov Sibiri. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1972. P. 413–414.

8. Labutin Yu.V., Vshivcev V.P. Yakutiya. // Volk. M.: Nauka, 1985. P. 539–543.

9. Egorov O.V. Dikie kopy`tny`e Yakutii. M.: Nauka, 1965. 260 p.

10. Labutin Yu.V. Xishhniki kak faktor izmeneniya chislennosti zajcza-belyaka // Issledovaniya dinamiki chislennosti zajcza-belyaka v Yakutii. M.: Nauka, 1960. P. 192–209.

11. Kucherenko S.P. Volk yuga Dal`nego Vostoka // E`kologicheskie osnovy` oxrany` i racional`nogo ispol`zovaniya xishhny`x mlekopitayushhix / Mat. Vsesoyuzn. sovesh. M.: Nauka, 1979. P. 117–118.

12. Danilkin A.A. Olen`i (Cervidae). M.: GEOS, 1999. 552 p.

13. Stepanova V.V., Oxlopkov I.M. E`kologiya blagorodnogo olenya v Yakutii. Novosibirsk: Nauka. 2009. 136 p.

14. Krivoshapkin A.A. Kabarga (Moschus moschiferus L., 1758) v Yakutii // Vestnik YaGU. 2008. Vol. 5, No. 3. P. 5–9.

15. Mech L.D. The wolf: the ecology and behavior of an endangered species. Garden City. N. Y.: Nat. Hist. Mus. Press. 1970. 385 p.

16. Mech L.D. Wolf – pack buffer zones as prey reservoirs // Science. 1977. Vol. 198. P. 320–321.

17. Volk: proisxozhdenie, sistematika, morfologiya, e`kologiya. M.: Nauka, 1985. 606 p.

18. Yudin V.G. Volk Dal`nego Vostoka Rossii: 2-e izd. pererab. i dop. Vladivostok: Dal`nauka. 2013. 412 p.

19. Nesterenko V.V. Rol` volka v prirodny`x kompleksax zapovednikov // Populyacz. issled. zhivotny`x v zapovednikax. M., 1988. P. 139–144.

20. Romanov A.A. Pushny`e zveri Lensko-Xatangskogo kraya i ix promy`sel. L.: Glavsevmorput`, 1941. 140 p.

21. Tavrovskij V.A., Egorov O.V., Krivosheev V.G. i dr. Mlekopitayushhie Yakutii M.: Nauka, 1971. 660 p.