Kamchatka

Known as “The Land of Fire and Ice”, the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia is home to some of the largest brown bears on the planet.  Erupting volcanoes, hundreds of glaciers and thousands of lakes and rivers are where one quarter of the world’s Pacific Salmon come to spawn. The rugged landscape is home to abundant wildlife including 200 bird and 600 plant species. Because they require large, ecologically diverse areas, WCS is using brown bears as a “landscape species” to unify conservation efforts in this biologically unique and wondrous area. There is, unfortunately, a paucity of dependable information on the ecology of Kamchatka bears, such as the size of their territories, extent of their movements, importance of different habitat types and landscape features, or their food preferences. Without this basic, yet critical, information it is impossible to monitor the bear population, evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas, or develop sound management and conservation programs.  WCS, in collaboration with local experts and institutions, is working toward acquiring the necessary data while there is still time to create an effective bear management regime in Kamchatka.

The Human Aspect
Fewer than 400,000 people live in the Kamchatka Peninsula, an area twice the size of California. Historically, the area was protected by a well-run Soviet system of federally protected areas and, because of its strategic position for the Russian naval fleet, much of the peninsula had been off limits to both Russians and foreigners.  To date, the 5 protected areas in Kamchatka have been gazetted as the Volcanoes of Kamchatka World Heritage Site in recognition of its global significance. Unfortunately protected areas are chronically under funded and understaffed and are not able to deter rampant poaching. Increasing human access to mineral resources is allowing both bear and salmon poachers to access previously inaccessible areas of the peninsula.   

Threats
Today, Kamchatka no longer has value as a strategic military position and unmonitored oil, gas and mineral exploration and development are increasingly threatening wildlife.  Poaching for both salmon and brown bears is common and bear parts are openly bought and sold in the markets and through advertisements in local newspapers. Trophy hunting for snow sheep and brown bears, while a potential source of income for conservation, are largely uncontrolled and most of the money leaves the region. Current hunting practices target large dominant male bears, which changes the social dynamics of the bear population. Protected areas are poorly funded and under increasing pressure from hunting, poaching and tourism.

WCS Activities
Brown bears in Kamchatka are increasingly threatened by harvest pressure and increased human access.  Understanding the needs of bears in Kamchatka is a fundamental first step towards their conservation.  WCS initially focused research efforts in Southern Kamchatka Wildlife Sanctuary and Kronotski “Zapovednik” (protected area) to understand bear ecology in the absence of human impacts, and has since expanded research to unprotected areas.  Since 2002, we have been working with local managers to improve brown bear population census techniques, and have actively been collecting needed data on brown bear ecology through telemetry and satellite collar studies. Information gained from these studies will be used to map critical habitat and focus WCS brown bear conservation efforts.  In the summer of 2004, WCS brought together North American and Russian specialists to assess survey and management techniques – this exchange was a great success and proved to be a break-through in initiating new approaches to bear census and management.  With credibility gained through these efforts, WCS has pushed to increase conservation efforts in protected areas as well as unprotected areas on the peninsula. Researchers are monitoring the social dynamics of bears on salmon streams. When salmon stocks are low there is more social aggression amongst bears which negatively effects population growth.

In addition, scientists have been collecting data on poaching activities and are closely monitoring trophy hunting. Research indicates that removing large trophy males destabilizes of the social structure of bears and can impact reproduction and the ability of the population to recover from intensive hunting.  WCS is currently comparing the differences in hunted and unhunted bear populations to assess some of the effects of trophy hunting.  Ultimately, we hope that this information will lead to more informed decision-making on the part of local managers, and more responsible management of trophy hunting of bears.

Important Next Steps
• To build on all of the work that has been accomplished, WCS is planning on the following steps:
• Improve census techniques, based on the results of the 2004 Kamchatka brown bear census workshop, to better monitor trends in the Kamchatka brown bear population;
• Continue to monitor marked bears and publish information about the home ranges, movements and habitat use of Kamchatka’s brown bears;
• Develop a GIS mapping and habitat database to improve local capacity for informed decision-making and focusing conservation efforts;
• Continue to disseminate the Brown Bear Education Program to school children, local residents and visiting foreigners;
• Improve bear management practices, and improve management of trophy hunting to reduce impact on the bear population;
• Continue working with the local governments and outfitters to monitor and better control poaching, specifically the impact of salmon poaching on bear population;
• Continue to work with protect area managers to develop enforcement, infrastructure and research capacity.