Ukraine Beauty

Ukraine still has abundant wildlife including large predators such as European brown bear, wolf, and lynx. Many of endemic species such as the European bison and European ground squirrel can be found in the Carpathian and Crimea region.

The population of Wolves and European brown bears is relatively stable in Ukraine, because even a shepherd whose live stocks sometimes got killed by wolves recognizes their roles to maintain healthy forest condition. Otherwise over populated elks and roe deer eat up grasses at meadow on which live stocks graze.

Whereas enough small preys such as mice, gophers, and jerboas live in in the　Ukraine wilderness. Not only large predators but also smaller ones such as martens, weasel, and foxes are able to sustain their life.

Lynx link to Hare and Fox     ― Lynx ―

Lynx mainly feed on hare in the wild. Therefore the population of lynx and that of hare is closely related. There is also another animal that link to those two. Fox that is. Lynx hunt foxes to eliminate their competitor. When fox population goes down, hare is likely abundant.

Although lynx rarely killed livestock or attacked humans, lynx were blamed and killed. In Spain diseases of rabbits spread after decline of lynx. Apparently lynx restrain population of rabbits and regulate epidemic diseases of rabbits.

Lynx may contribute to survival of the other animals such as grouse and pine martin that are known to be killed by foxes. Especially in deep snow lynx have advantage to chase fox down with their long legs and large paws which help them to run faster than foxes. Although lynx do kill foxes, they seldom eat foxes.

Some study shows that Lynx population has impact on both foxes and hare population in Northern Europe such as Finland and Sweden. However climatic change also has some effect on predator ‐prey relation, because the amount of snow is getting decreased each year.

Peace Keeper in Sea Forest     ― Sea Otter ―

In ocean relatively small predator has colossal role to maintain healthy ecosystem. Sea otters are the one in kelp forests or sea grass meadows. Sea otters have voracious appetite. They prefer to eat crabs, clams, and sea urchins because those are easy to catch. If sea otters are removed from their habitat, sea urchins and crabs will proliferate. Since sea urchins devour kelps vigorously, eventually kelp forests are gone with many other sea creatures. Crabs have same effects on sea grass meadows as well. Both kelp forests and sea grass meadow are precious areas which provide food and shelter for young fish and the other sea animals. Loss of these productive ecosystems will cause serious declining fish harvest for humans.

Baboon Hunter     ― Leopard ―

Today large carnivores such as lions, leopards, bears, and wolves are losing their population and habitat worldwide. Surprisingly more than 75% of the species of top predators are declining in numbers. The impact of losing predators is serious effect on various ecosystems and human life.

Sometimes leopards kill livestock and humans kill those leopards to protect their asset. However since leopards are the most fearsome enemies for baboons, losing leopards leads expansion of baboon population. Consequently increased baboon population needs more food and eats human crops for compensation. If there were enough prey around in leopards’ territories, they would not consider livestock as prey. Leopards are smart enough not to take the risk against human.