Year: 2020, Number: 3, Pages: 16-34
Ungulates are one of the main components of ecosystems and an important hunting resource. There are two indigenous representatives of ungulates — moose and wild reindeer in the studied region. Roe deer penetrating from surrounding areas are also registered. The increasing of the anthropogenic impact has affected the distribution and abundance of moose and wild reindeer in the Murmansk region, and urgent measures are needed to preserve and restore their resources and first of all is the population monitoring. Another important measure is the organization of the protection of animals and their habitats. The aim of this work was to determine the current state of the populations of native species of ungulates of the Murmansk region and assessment of the importance of existing protected areas in preservation of their resources, as well as to determine the perspectives planned for the creation protected areas in this regard. We used the data of the Winter Track Count 2012–2014, statistics data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Murmansk Region, the results of field studies and special surveys 2014–2020, a questionnaire survey. In recent years, there has been a gradual increase in the number of moose in the studied region, winter concentrations of the species are still observed in the territories of the existing protected areas, and they still are the main territories to maintaining species resources. The distribution and abundance of wild reindeer has decreased since the beginning of the new century and the protected areas of the region are key reserves where these animals still exist. However, to preserve the species it is necessary to quickly introduce the protected areas planned for the organization to the legal status.