Más de 300 Siberian roe deer were rescued from frozen lakes in the Novosibirsk region of Russia, according to the local Ministry of Nature recently reported.
These specimens were trapped in the ice as they could not walk on the slippery surface that occurred during the annual migration route, which began earlier this year.
The Siberian roe deer start their movement from the highlands of the neighboring region of Altai in January, when the snow becomes very deep.
Under usual and normal climatic and environmental conditions, the artiodactyls cross the frozen lakes and rivers of the Novosibirsk area without difficulty. However, this time the ice proved impossible, playing a bad trick on these animals.
It was an early migration that left the animals stranded on the slippery ice, unable to move. Local fishermen and emergency teams participated in the emotional rescue.
Last week, fishermen from the Karasuk district located about 30 roe deer trapped in the ice of Lake Chernoye. The men moved the animals, weighing about 40 kilograms, to the nearest shore using sleds and carrying them on their shoulders. The operation was complicated due to the resistance of the Siberian roe deer, which bit and kicked during the rescue.
One of the fishermen, Ilya Zaitsev, recorded the work and intervention to help the roe deer and posted the footage on his YouTube channel. “To be honest, it’s a terrible sight. They are down because they slip on the ice and are screaming. Those who are sitting are fine, but I see one down; most likely, it is lifeless,” he stated.
The country’s Ministry of Nature reported that the Ministry of Emergencies teams used a hovercraft to access the affected areas with the ice and continue the rescue of the trapped herd. Authorities confirmed that not all the roe deer survived the incident, although the vast majority were saved.
What is the geographic distribution of the Siberian roe deer
The Siberian roe deer ( Capreolus pygargus ) is a species native to the Palearctic region. It has a wide distribution area that covers much of northern Asia, including the central and northern regions of Kazakhstan (excluding the Aral Sea) and Mongolia.
The distribution area in Mongolia includes the regions of the Navchvandan, Hangai, Darkhad mountain ranges in Hovsgol and Ikh Hyangan, as well as the northeastern part of the Mongolian Altai range. The geographic distribution area of the Siberian roe deer extends along the southern border of Russia, including the western and eastern ends of Ukraine.
Its distribution area also extends to central China, intersecting the western half of the Yangtze River and the eastern region of Tibet. An isolated population has been reported along the northern slopes of the Russian Caucasus mountains. Disjunct populations are also found on Jeju Island, in the Republic of Korea.
What is their habitat like
The Siberian roe deer inhabits temperate forests, often near revegetation burns and forest clearings. It usually lives at high altitudes, up to 3300 m above sea level. It can tolerate temperatures as low as -60 °C and live in areas with snow up to 50 cm thick.
The highest densities of Siberian roe deer are found in grasslands, tall grass prairies, and alluvial plains, where food is abundant. In some cases, populations reach densities of up to 12 individuals per 100 hectares.
