Fauna
Bison
Photo by Alexei Bunevich
The fauna of Belovezhskaya Pushcha is diverse and abundant. There are more than 11,000 species of animals from various groups in the inventory list. Up to date the list of mammals exits of 59 species which belong to 6 orders. 85 % of the mammalian fauna of Belarus lives within the Pushcha (Tolkach et al 1996). The group of mammals is made up of 20 species of rodents (Rodentia), 13 species of bats (Chiroptera), 12 carnivores (Carnivora), 7 insectivores (Insectivora), 5 even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla), and 2 rabbits and hares (Lagomorpha). A large and vital population of European bison inhabits Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
Otter
Photo published in Polish issues
The largest representatives of the group of rodents in Pushcha are Beaver (Gastor fiber L.) and Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris L.). Forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula Pall.) and Fat dormouse (Glis glis L.) are the most rare mammals present. The habitats within Belovezhskaya Pushcha are rather densely populated by Bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreb.), Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis Melch.) and Northern birch mouse (Sicista betulina Pall.). All species of bats belong to one family - the sharp-nosed bats (Vespertilionidae). The most commonly occurring species are Small reddish-brown bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus Schreb.) and Nathusius pipistrelle (P. Nathusii Keyserl.). The Parti-colored bat (Vespertilio murinus L.) is a wide-spread species as well.
Lynx
Photo by Wlodzimierz Jedrzejewski
The predators of Belovezhskaya Pushcha include Wolf (Canus lupus L.), Fox (Vulpes vulpes L.), Lynx (Felis lynx L.), Badger (Meles meles), Pine marten (Martes martes), Otter (Lutra lutra) and smaller species. The most common insectivores are Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) and Common mole (Talpa europaea L.). Less known are three species of shrew-mice; Common shrew (Sorex araneus L.), Lesser shrew (S. minutus L.), Middle shrew (S. caecutiens) and two species of Water shrew (Neomys). The ungulates include European bison (Bison bonasus L.), Wild boar (Sus scropha L.), Red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and Moose (Alces alces). Hares (Lagomorphs-hares) are represented by Gray hare (Lepus europaeus L.) and Blue hare (L. timidus L.). The latter lives in very small numbers in the northern part of Pushcha.
Wolf
Photo by Wlodzimierz Jedrzejewski
250 species of birds have been recorded in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and in the adjacent region. The group includes 141 migratory, 31 nomadic, 31 residential and 24 occasionally recorded species. 169 species are known to nest in Pushcha. The most numerous order is made up by passerines (Passeriformes) - 97 species. Next to the sparrows in number are the ducks and geese (Anseriformes) - 27 species, followed by the following groups: plover birds (Charadriformes) - 25 species, raptors (Falcoformes) - 21 species, owls (Strigiformes) - 11 species, waders (Ciconiformes) - 9 species, woodpeckers (Piciformes) - 9 species, cranes (Gruiformes) - 8 species, scratching fowl (Galliformes) - 7 species, loons (Podicipediformes) - 5 species and pigeons (Columbiformes) - 4 species. Divers (Gaviiformes), Pelicaniformes, cuckoos (Cuculoformes), goatsuckers (Caprimulgiformes) and martins (Apodiformes) are represented by one to three species.
The herpetofauna of Belovezhskaya Pushcha consists of 11 species of amphibians. The most common and numerous amongst the amphibians is the Sharp-snout frog (Rana arvalis Nilssom). The brown frog (R. temporaria L.) is less common. The Edible (or pond) frog is represented by two species (Rana lessonae Camerano and Rana esculenta L.). Spotted newl (Triturus vulgaris L.) is abundant in stagnant waters, where Crested newt (Triturus cristatus Lourenti) may also occur. The Fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina L.) often occurs in association with newts. Common tree frog (Hyla aborea L.) and Garlic toad (Pelobates fuscus Layr.) are throughout the entire area. Gray toad (Bufo bufo L.) and Green toad (Bufo viridis Layr.) are rather common amphibians within Pushcha. Running toad is a rare species in Pushcha (Bufo calamita Layr.).
Reptiles are represented by 7 species. The most numerous species is the Grass snake (Natrix natrix L.) and less frequent are Anguine lizard (Anguis fragilis L.), Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis L.) and Common lizard (L. vivipara Jacquin). The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Layr.) is found sporadically, while Adder (Vipera berus L.) is rare and Pond turtle (Emys orbicularis L.) is extremely rare.
Wild boar
Photo by Vladimir Bazan
27 species of fishes occur in water sources of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The most numerous are the Pike (Esox lucius L.), Roach (Rutilus rutilus L.), Tench (Tinca tinca L.), Ruff (Acerina cernua L.), Gudgeon (Gobio gobio L.), and Perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). Much more rare are the Ide (Leuciscus idus L.), Bream (Abramis brama L.), Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus L.), and others. There are single occurrence of Ell (Anguilla anguilla L.) and Cat-fish (Silurus glanis L.). Only the representative of Cyclostoma in the Pushcha rivers is the River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis Bloch.).
Belovezhskaya Pushcha has a rich fauna of invertebrates, which exists of over 12,000 species. There is a preponderance of palearctic species that are widely spread in Europe. There are also many species typical for Eastern and Central Europe, fewer representatives of the Atlantic (Western European) and very few southern species originating from Southern Europe. On the whole, the invertebrate fauna in Pushcha is more divers than in any other forest area of Europe. Insects alone number over than 10000 species. The other groups of invertebrates, amongst which protozoans (Protozoa), worms (Annelida), spiders (Arachnida), mollusks (Mollusca), which have not been studied well so far. During every new field seasons, so in every new year, scientists make notice of species which have not been recorded within Belovezhskaya Pushcha before. Sometimes species, which are new for science, are identified. The Pushcha has retained unique associations of invertebrates, numerous inhabitants of old, dead and rotten wood, shelf fungi, high bogs and flood-plain marshes.
The fauna of Pushcha listed in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Belarus includes 11 species of mammals, 52 species of birds, 38 species of insects, 2 reptiles, 1 amphibian and 8 species of fish. Among these protected species European bison, Lynx, Badger, White-tailed eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Black stork, Crane, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Eagle owl, Great Grey Owl, Pygmy Owl, White-backed woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Roller, Aquatic Warbler and many other species are present in Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
* Based on information from the article by Heorhi Kazulka & Vasiliy Zhukov "The State National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is the oldest Natural Reserve in Europe”, published in the book "Belovezhskaya Pushcha at the Turn of the Third Millennium. Materials of the Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Formation of the State Reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha". - Minsk, 1999. - pp. 16 - 33. (In Russian)
(With some modern data added.)
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