Siberian Animals

Whenever anyone thinks about Siberian animals, the first creature to come to mind is likely to be the Siberian Tiger. This magnificent animal once roamed across Asia and even into Alaska but today it is confined to certain areas of Siberia and it remains firmly on the endangered list.

A dwindling species

Hunting and loss of habitat have affected the Siberian Tiger in the same way that many species across the world have been threatened in recent times, however some 25 years ago there was a distinct possibility that it may have become extinct.

In the mid 1980’s it was estimated that the numbers of Siberian Tigers in the wild had dropped to around 250 but a near calamity was to follow as law and order started to break down in the final years of the Soviet Union.

Subsequent deforestation and bribery of park rangers made poaching of these beasts ridiculously easy. No one seems to know exactly how close they came to extinction, but it must have been a perilous time for the species.

Recovery

In 1992, with Communist rule behind the country, the Siberian Tiger project helped restore the number of Siberian Tigers bred in captivity and their numbers in the wild steadily increased too.

While the danger isn’t over for these wonderful creatures, a distinct period of recovery has begun.

The Siberian Husky

Another famous animal in this part of the world is the Siberian Husky. These dogs have always been bred to work and they were first raised by the Chukchi of North Eastern Asia to pull heavy loads via sleds.

The Siberian Husky is thought the be one of the oldest dog breeds in the world and many other breeds such as Samoyed are thought to be directly descended.

Happily, there are no concerns over the state of the species as a whole and while they are still widely known as working dogs, their obedient nature has seen more and more of them being kept as family pets.

Birds

Siberia is also home to many species of fascinating birdlife. The Siberian Crane is particularly distinctive as its visible feathers are a pure, snowy white, offset only by its red beak.

Elsewhere, the Siberian Stonechat is a beautifully marked flycatcher and unlike many Siberian animals, it thrives right across Asia and beyond.

Perhaps the most distinctive bird however is the Siberian Rubythroat. As the name suggests, it has a very noticeable red throat and this is another bird that is happily thriving in Siberia and across Russia.

Fish

Siberia also contains many indigenous species of fish and the Siberian Sturgeon is perhaps the most famous of these. Sadly this is another endangered species with dwindling numbers.

Siberia is also home to its own breeds of Salmon, Dace and Cod.

While the tiger will always be the first animal to spring to mind when you think of Siberia, this fascinating landscape plays host to many beautiful species and wildlife lovers across the world would find Siberia to be a welcoming and rewarding destination.