Khosrov State Reserve

The Khosrov Reserve is located in the southwest of Armenia in the province of Ararat, southeast of the capital Yerevan. The area is under protection since 1958 and covers an area of ​​nearly 240 square kilometers.

15,492 ha in the core zone of the reserve have the status of "wilderness partner " in the network of European Wildlife sanctuaries in the PAN Parks Foundation.

History

The protection of the reserve goes back to the 4th century, when the Armenian ruler Chosrav III. presented two hunting reserves the Azat river under his protection, one of which to this day is known as Khosrov Forest and the protected area Khosrov helped to name. In the neighboring village Garni is a former summer residence of Armenian kings, which was built between the 3rd and 13th centuries. In 1958, the Khosrov Reserve was designated an area of ​​148.6 square kilometers under Soviet rule, which was expanded in 1990 to 293 square kilometers. In 2006-2007 the protected area, however, was reduced to 238.8 square kilometers, inter alia, the habitats of the endangered Armenian wild sheep (Ovis orientalis gmelinii ) carved out of the reserve and were sold into private hands. The official protection status of Khosrov - reserve is classified by the IUCN in the Ia category.

Climate

The climate of the reserve is characterized overall continental. Due to the height differences, several climate zones arise. The lower regions 900-1300 m are relatively arid and received in only average 350-450 mm of precipitation. The winters are relatively mild with average January temperatures of -4 ° C. Occasionally, a blanket of snow covers this land. The summer is long and dry.

The average rainfall in the regions of 1400-2000 m is 500-600 mm, in January are the average temperatures in these locations at -5 ° to 7 ° C, but can also fall to -30 ° C. During the months of November to March a permanent snow cover is located in these areas. In 2000-2500 m altitude, temperatures up to -42 ° C can fall off and lie in January average at -8 to -12 ° C In these mountainous regions of the summer is short and relatively cool. The average rainfall in this altitude is about 800 mm per year.

Landscape and vegetation

The landscape of the reserve is very rugged and consists mainly of plateaus are cut by deep canyons. Most slopes of the reserve are relatively steep. About half of the protected area lies at altitudes 1500-2300 m. Below 1500 m is mainly dominated by so-called Badlands. Numerous springs rise the mountains, lakes and wetlands, however, are rare. Only two mountain rivers, the Azat and Vedi of their tributaries are in the reserve. Both come from Geghama Mountains and dig on their way to the southwest large V - shaped valleys. In the arid lowlands 900-1250 m semi-deserts dominate, also occur up to an altitude of about 2500 m grasslands, which are interspersed from an altitude of 1500 m with sparse juniper forests and from 1600 m with oak forests. Above 2,500 m are subalpine and alpine mats. Overall, forests cover about 16 % of the park area, grasslands about 20% and Xerophilous plant communities on rocky terrain about 64 %. The landscape has always been influenced by the local population. Although in 1985 some areas of land were abandoned, the owners were compensated, some villages are located within the reserve. Currently, about 40 families manage a total of approximately 20 hectares of land in the reserve. The Gorovan Reserve, which lies on the edge of the Khosrov Reserve, and is the only true desert reserve of Armenia, is exploited by sand mining and Weideviehaltung.

Part of the reserve is Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Wildlife

Originally came in the Reserve before 41 mammal species. By outsourcing the urts mountain range, however valuable drylands were lost, which 12 species are now no longer to be found in the reserve. These drying specialists include the long-eared hedgehog ( Hemiechinus auritus ), various gerbils (M. dahli, M. vinogradovi, M. tristrami ), two types of horse jumpers and the Asian wildcat ( Felis lybica ornata ). Even the rare Armenian wild sheep (O. o gmelinii ) is due to the reduction of the protected area before just outside of the protected areas in urts Mountains. Before that Khosrov Reserve was the only reserve in the Armenia seemed the type. By the submission of the relevant areas to private hands, was the probability that the wild sheep survive in the area of ​​urts, significantly reduced. The currently used by the animals area is only about 20 km x 8 km large and is increasingly surrounded by settlements. Wild sheep come in Armenia otherwise only in the southern Zangezur mountains in the southeast of the country before.

However, the reserve is still equipped with a rich wildlife and some particularly rare species. Thus, the Persian leopard is coming ( P. p. Saxicolor ), the Syrian brown bear (U. a syriacus ), the wild goat (C. aegagrus ) and polecat ( Vormela peregusna peregusna ) still present in the reserve.

In addition, wild boars (Sus scrofa), wolf (Canis lupus), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), badgers ( Meles meles ), hare (Lepus europaeus), weasels (Mustela nivalis) and stone marten (Martes foina ) in reserve. Recently, even the Indian porcupine (H. indica) are detected.

The 192 bird species make up 56 % of bird species throughout Armenia. Of these, 83 species nest in the reserve. Five most threatened bird species found in Khosrov reserve still in place appropriate habitats. These are the vulture ( Aegypius monachus), the Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus ), lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni ), the Roller (Coracias garrulus ) and the Halbringschnäpper ( Ficedula semitorquata ). In addition, especially the gtoße variety of birds of prey is noteworthy. Bearded Vulture ( Gypaetus barbatus), Egyptian vulture ( Neophron percnopterus ), griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), Lanner Falcon ( Falco biarmicus ) are only a selection below. Fowls are by Caspian King Chicken ( Tetraogallus caspius ), chukar ( Alectoris chukar ) partridge ( Perdix perdix ) and quail (Coturnix coturnix ) represented. The semi-desert areas, for example, goat milkers ( Caprimulgus europaeus), European bee -eaters (Merops apiaster ) populated.

Among the 33 species of reptiles are Agame ( Laudakia caucasia ) Scheltopusik ( Pseudopus apodus ), Armenian 's viper (Vipera raddei ), Spur-thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca ), skinks ( septemtaeniata Trachylepis, Eumeces schneideri ), European Cat Snake ( Telescopus fallax ), Raver Gier whip snake ( Coluber ravingieri ), Armenian meadow viper (Vipera eriwanensis ), and the Levant viper (Vipera lebetina ) worth mentioning. In addition, 5 live amphibians and 9 species of fish in the area. Insect species were counted in 1427, mollusks represent 62 and scorpions 3 species.

Tourism

In the buffer zone of the reserve are a visitor center with a campsite ( Garni District ) and a tourist center, also with camping ( Khosrov district ). At the village Schatin, which is close to the reserve, wild goats can be observed, which have become accustomed to the proximity of people.