In the Kronotsky Nature Reserve in Kamchatka, the annual winter route registration (ZMU) of animals takes place. This year, in addition to state inspectors, students of Vyatka State Agrotechnical University who are undergoing practical training are participating in field work. The total length of the routes is about 400 kilometers, and at the moment, not all sections have been counted due to the lack of snow. In total, about 20 people are involved in the event.
Students who had previously participated in the ZMU in the Kirov region note that the most difficult thing in Kamchatka was the constant climbing of mountains with specific slopes. However, despite the difficulties, they successfully adapted and were able to overcome routes up to 20 km long. The participants note that they have gained valuable experience that will be useful to them in their future professional activities, and the collected data will be used when writing theses.
The students actively joined the work, helping the inspectors not only in tracking animal tracks, but also in household matters.: harvesting firewood, providing water, heating baths, and even cooking. The state inspectors of the reserve, in turn, note that the students did an excellent job with their tasks.
The main purpose of the ZMU is to determine the population size and distribution of the so–called background animal species typical of the area. In the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, they include fox, white hare, sable, moose, wolverine, lynx, wolf and others. These data allow ecologists to monitor the state of populations and make adjustments to conservation measures. Animal population monitoring in the reserve has been conducted since 1967 and is a valuable material for scientific research.