Marmot in Slovakia. Brief overview [La Marmotte en Slovaquie. Bref aperçu].

Résumé

Tatra marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris) is recognized as a separate subspecies endemic to the Carpathians, especially Tatra Mountains (Slovakia and Poland). In Slovakia, this subspecies occurs in two different mountain ranges, both designated as national parks – Tatransky National Park (High Tatras Mts) and in National Park Tatry (Low Tatra Mts). Individuals of both populations are autochthonous, confirmed by information from historical and fossil data.In total, the estimation of Marmot number in Slovakia is about 800 – 1000 individuals, from which 300-350 is in Low Tatra Mts and 500-600 is in High Tatra Mts.Tatra marmot is strictly protected species threatened by many factors, mostly by human activities.To prevent negative impacts and to secure suitable protection of the species, Management plan for Tatra marmot was adopted by Ministry of Environment of SR, for the period of 5 years (2003-2008) and actualizing this document recently. The key tasks off this document were to propose and point out necessary activities for mentioned period, which are: to establish permanent and regular monitoring of the species in the whole range (including study of ethology, ecology, winter survival, mortality, food preference), monitoring should include also spatial activity based on radio-tracking research, cooperate with relevant institutions, organizations and individuals and to prepare proper training for them, realize serious research aimed on confirming the taxonomy status of the subspecies on the genetic base, research also health status of individuals (parasites, heavy metals, habitat contamination, etc.), identification of main threats and their elimination.