Moose resources in the Republic of Karelia

Abstract

For a comprehensive assessment of the state of hunting resources in general and moose in particular, it is necessary to know several basic indicators, such as: the number of animals, their population density, and the biological productivity of hunting acreages. The purpose of the research was to analyze the state of moose resources in the Republic of Karelia. The object of research was the wild moose population in the Republic of Karelia. The number of moose in the republic as a whole and in the context of administrative districts has been analyzed in the work. The number of animals is one of the most important indicators for analyzing the ecological and economic state of biological resources. On the number of moose base the density of the moose population was calculated and analyzed. The districts of the Republic of Karelia with high, medium and low densities of moose were identifi ed. The biological productivity of hunting acreages for moose and the cost of moose resources were calculated. So, for the period 2018–2022 the number of moose in the Republic of Karelia has tended to increase from 19 454 heads in 2018 up to 21 250 heads in 2022, i.e. by 1796 heads or 9,2 %. The highest average long-term number of animals was recorded in the Loukhsky district, where it amounted to 2127 heads and the lowest in the Sortavalsky district with 382 heads. The average long-term population density of moose per 1000 hectares of characteristic acreages was less than 2 heads per 1000 hectares, which corresponds to land quality 5 for this type of animal. The average long-term biological productivity of hunting acreages for moose was 0,22 kg/ha, and the average long-term value of moose resources was 6,27 billion rubles.