Manul (Otocolobus manul)
Area of habitat in Russia: Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains
Conservation status: Least concern
A manul at the Rotterdam Zoo. Credit: Johannes Heel (@j_heel) via Unsplash
Odds are, you’re already familiar with the manul. Also known as Pallas’s cat, after the scholar who first observed and recorded the animal in the area of Lake Baikal, this wild cat has been the subject of memes for nearly 20 (!) years. Owing to its somewhat goofy “big chonker” look, it became an overnight sensation online – and even was chosen as the Moscow Zoo’s mascot in 2012.
Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus)
Area of habitat in Russia: Siberia (duh!)
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Siberian musk deer. Credit: Наталья (tx_neft) via iNaturalist / CC BY-NC 4.0
No, this isn’t one of those “the taxidermist didn’t know what the animal looked like” situations. The Siberian musk deer is one of the most curious-looking inhabitants of the taiga – instead of antlers, its males grow cutesy-yet-imposing fangs to impress potential mates. What a look!
Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
Area of habitat in Russia: Siberia
Conservation status: Vulnerable
A young snow leopard. Credit: Robert Sachowski (@rsachowski) via Unsplash
The snow leopard is an important animal not only to several cultures of Europe and Central Asia, such as the Tatars or (oddly) the city of Pskov, but also to ITMO University in particular. Since its founding in 2013, the KronBars student sports club has claimed the snow leopard as its mascot, Tim. Even today, you’ll see Tim accompany students to sports competitions and the bi-annual Bike Ride with the Rector.
Komandorsky blue fox (Vulpes lagopus semenovi)
Area of habitat in Russia: Medny Island
Conservation status: Endangered
A Medny Island fox. Credit: Alexander Shienok (@shienok) via iNaturalist / CC BY-NC 4.0
If you’ve read our article on Russia’s unique nature spots, you’ll remember the Commander Islands – a somewhat isolated and biodiverse natural community in the Bering Sea. Its only endemic mammal species is the Medny Island fox, a slight canine with a seasonal dark coat and striking eyes. Today, only around a hundred specimens remain – but conservation efforts are under way.
