Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve

IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve

Winter landscape in Kedrowaja Pad

The Kedrowaja Pad Nature Reserve (Russian Заповедник " Кедровая Падь " Sapowednik " Kedrowaja pad " ) is a protected area in the far east of Russia. It was founded in 1925 and covers an area of 179 square kilometers. The reserve is an important refuge for the endangered Amur leopards.

Landscape

The reserve is located in the extreme south of the Primorye region west of Vladivostok, near the border with China. It covers 179 square kilometers of mountain forest. The mixed forests provide a transition area between the Siberian taiga and sub-tropical forests represents the half of the area is now used by the Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica ) covered. She was favored in the past mainly by forestry measures. In addition, thrive mainly limes, maples, birches, elm, ash and various conifers such as the Manchurian fir and Korean Pine. Chance also occur wild pears and rhododendron. Adjacent is the Leopardowy National Wildlife Refuge. There are plans and Kedrowaja this pad to core zones of a future national parks to make ( Land of the Leopard). The longer term, even the Hunchun Nature Reserve could be connected on the Chinese side by protection zones with the Russian reserves.

Fauna

The reserve is one of the most important sanctuaries for the endangered Amur leopards. By camera traps total of twelve different animals could be identified here and in neighboring Leopardowy Wildlife Reserve in 2011. In previous years, there were always seven to nine of these rare wild cats. Another big predators come near the front of the Amur leopard and Asiatic. In addition, the reserve is home to large stocks of ungulates such as wild boar and Siberian roe deer, Sika deer and Siberian musk deer. At smaller predators are red foxes, raccoon dogs before, Asian badgers, Yellow-throated marten, otter, weasel and fire Amurkatzen. Showy small mammals are squirrels, chipmunks and flying squirrels. The area is also home to many birds and reptiles, such as frogs Sperber and tiger snake.