Review of target programs for marmot’s conservtion in the west Tien Shan. Obzor tselevykh programm po sokhraneniiu sourkov v zapadnom Tïan’-Chane. [Revue des programmes de conservation sur les marmottes dans l’ouest du Tien Chan].

Résumé

Marmot's habitat and population is constantly declining in the West Tien Shan. Especially endangered is Menzbier's marmot, an endemic to the area, whose future is unpredictable should urgent measures not be taken. Target programs aimed to preserve marmots in general and Menzbier's marmot, in particular, can be subdivided into the programs on habitat improvement, poaching prevention and reduction of mortality level caused by shepherd's dogs. In nature reserves with limited grazing activity herbs grow very high and this is something to deal with in order to improve the marmot's habitat. With the years a big amount of dry grass is accumulated on the pastures and vegetation grows up to 1 m. This breaks the spatial and social structure of marmot's colonies and marmots become an easy prey for predators such as snow leopard, lynx, wolf, and fox. Therefore it is necessary to carry out fire management activity (controlled fire) or allow livestock grazing in the nature reserves. However, suggested fire management programs aimed at burning dry grass in autumn or authorized grazing of livestock in nature reserve are not supported by the environmental authorities. A step to reduce poaching, which is becoming very popular among shepherds, is to award prizes to the shepherds who would preserve marmots on their pastures. Though these proposaIs face some difficulties they can be easily solved in a cost effective way should there be sponsor's aids. A program to form a negative reflex in shepherd's dogs against marmot meat by feeding those with marmot meat soaked in marmot fat with vomit provoking substances previously added in it has been developed. However, this practice has been never applied there. It seems to be very complicated and now inappropriate to breed Menzbier's marmot artificially in order to increase its population for further re-introduction and conservation. All efforts shall be aimed to preserve the existing natural population.