AltSU has completed the program of reintroduction of birds from the Red Book by 100%

According to Sergey Snigirev, Director of the Zoological Center of the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Altai State University, the most effective method of preserving and restoring the number of birds in the Red Book is reintroduction using individuals bred in semi-free conditions and artificially created habitats, for example, such as the Altai-Falcon nursery." Only thanks to this, in the USA, Great Britain, Germany and Poland, it was possible to restore the population of the peregrine falcon, in England - the populations of the red kite and goshawk, and in Scotland - the golden eagle.

Employees of the Altai State University have been working on the restoration of natural populations of Saker Falcon since 1996. During this time, more than 500 individuals were released into nature on the territory of Altai Krai and adjacent regions.

Currently, the population of rare bird species in Altai-Falcon is more than 150 individuals, including the Red Book falcons (saker falcon, peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon), golden eagle, eagle owl, as well as the steppe eagle, imperial eagle, Mediterranean lanner, and owls of various species. The most valuable species is the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), which is included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals with the status of Endangered Taxa (EN, оf Endangered, in Appendix II to the CITES Convention) and in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. By the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 31, 2013, the Saker Falcon is included in the list of especially valuable species.
Specialists of Altai-Falcon Altai State University, expanding the scale of work to preserve the biological diversity of natural complexes of the Greater Altai, in May this year released 10 Saker Falcons into the wild on the territory of the Sayyugemsky National Park (the Altai Republic), as well as in the Kornilovsky reserve in Kamensky District of Altai Krai and in the natural park "Altai Foothills"on the territory of Smolensky District.

The release of birds is part of the Saker Falcon Reintroduction Program in Altai Krai and the Altai Republic for the period 2021–2026, which was supported by Rector of Altai State University Sergei Bocharov.

Another direction of the Reintroduction Program is the introduction of Saker Falcon chicks into the nests of wild birds nesting on the territory of the Saylyugemsky National Park. In order to obtain the offspring of Saker Falcons, 4 male Saker Falcons were leased from the Altai-Falcon laboratory to the Taigun private nursery (Barnaul) to create pairs and obtain offspring. However, it was not possible to put chicks in previously explored nests of wild birds. The reason for this was the cold weather in the Kosh-Agach region of the Altai Republic, which influenced the late appearance of chicks of the Saker Falcons. Due to the large age difference, putting chicks obtained in the nursery into the nests became impossible. Thus, of all the participants, the reintroduction program this year was fully completed only by Altai State University.

It should be noted that Altai-Falcon plans to release 10-15 individuals annually, which depends on the number of birds provided by the nursery without impeding its activities and the reproduction of livestock. The expected results of the program are an increase in the population of the Saker Falcon in Altai Krai and the Altai Republic.