[État réel de la population de Marmota menzbieri au Kazakhstan. Real state of Marmota menzbieri population in Kazakhstan].

Résumé

M. menzbieri Kasch. is an endemic of Western Tien Shan and has been included in the Kazakhstan Red Data Book (3-rd category status). Its range in Kazakhstan embraces the Ugamsky and Karzhantau mountain ridges and covers 400 sq. km. Because of intensive hunting taking place in those years the numbers of M. menzbieri decreased already in the middle the forties to 40-50 thousands specimens, with an average density of 100-120 animals per 1 sq. km (Yanushko, 1951). This level also remained in the sixties, but ten years later it was restricted by one third (Kapitonov, Lobachov, 1977). In 1990 the almost complete disappearance of the species was reported: with an average density of 4 marmots per 1 sq.km, only 1.5-2.0 thousands specimens would have remained in Kazakhstan (Vyrypaev, Obidina, 1990). Our investigations were carried out in 1990-1992 in the western, central and eastern parts of Karzhantau (total registered area 44 sq. km). It was ascertained that the marmot density equalled 54-94 (average 70) specimens per 1 sq.km, with a maximum in western part (upper reaches of Badam River). A reduction of the marmot range was registered everywhere. Therefore the present numbers of this species in Kazakhstan (20-25 thousands specimens) amounts to no more than a half of the level of the forties. The main causes of this phenomenon are overgrazing and poaching. Thus, the state of M. menzbieri population in Kazakhstan is not so disastrous now as it had been supposed before, although it is either not very optimistic.