ECOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE DISTRUBUTION OF A WOLF (CANIS LUPUS L., 1758) IN THE CRIMEA

Abstract

Aim. The work presents information on the habitat of a wolf (Canis lupus L., 1758) in the Crimea. The aim of the work is to identify the environmental characteristics of the distribution of the wolf in the Crimea and to estimate its population. Methods. We carried out a detailed study of literary sources, data from hunting inspection. Surveys among hunters and reserve staff members were also conducted. Results. In the 21st century, wolf-dog hybrids, originally came from the Black Sea region, begin to inhabit the Crimea, which is unacceptable for protected areas. In the modern history of Crimea, the number of wolves has been constantly growing since 2003, and now this predator has become an ordinary game species (13 districts and near 3 cities). Its population had been gradually increasing until 2011 (60 wolves hunted) and had decreased by 2014 by 15 hunted wolves. The number of wolves in Crimea can be estimated at around 90-300 individuals. Conclusions. The largest number of killed wolves was recorded in the east of the peninsula in the Leninskiy district and in the north, in the Dzhankoyskiy district. The absence of wolf species in the Karadag natural reserve caused an overpopulation of European roe deer, which is fraught with degradation of phytocenoses.