Wildlife in Coldest Place on Earth – 10 Pictures
Do you remember how cold can it get during the winter months and how do we react to it? Well, there are many animals that live normally in the coldest part of Earth, not complaining at all. In the heart of the biggest country in the world lies Siberia, one of the most hostile regions for both humans and wildlife. Siberia still contains the greatest expanse of wilderness on the planet. This frozen and hostile land maybe kept civilization away, but it has a lot of animal species who are used to the bone-breaking temperatures, such as -50 or even -90 degrees Fahrenheit. Here are some animals that are small numbered, unique and very rarely caught on camera.
1. Eurasian wolves
Russia contains world's largest population of gray wolves, around 50,000. These animals live in packs, containing from 2 to 35 wolves. A large wolf pack can reign over 5,000 square miles of territory, which is about the size of Connecticut. They can be only found in isolation and catching them on film is still very rare. In this frozen world, they have to scrape the ice to quench their thirst.
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2. Wild Yakutian horses
In Siberia's far north lies Yakutia, the coldest region on the planet with temperatures that can go down to -95 degrees Fahrenheit. Wild Yakutian horses are adapted to survive these ferocious temperatures, by keeping a movement to a minimum. Over the time they also developed a thick skin and dense fur to shield them from temperatures below – 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is one the most ancient breed of horses that can be found only in this part of the world.
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3. Siberian white crane
The rarest birds in the world are Siberian white cranes. These critically endangered birds count 3,500 worldwide, but only 10 of them exist in western Siberia. They spend winters in China, where it is warmer, and then they travel 3,000 miles to the Russian tundra, to breed. Even the female brings two eggs, generally only one egg will survive until the maturity.
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4. Musk deer
On the side of the region, another rare creature hides in shadowy forest. This is the musk deer, with a face like a kangaroo and teeth like a vampire. Males grow fangs instead of antlers; the older the deer, the bigger the fangs. They are famous for their musk, used to attract mates.
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5. Siberian crow family
As the members of a crow family in this area, ravens are among the most intelligent birds. They are capable of making 30 different sounds. Without natural enemies, ravens can do something other animals cannot. They often play in the snow, just like kids in urban areas, turning around on the ground, acting very silly.
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6. Siberian reindeer
In the hills of Yakutia, vast and relentless armies of reindeers can be seen marching through the icy land. These animals which are built for subzero temperatures, move together in herds of thousands. They have hollowed, tapered hair that keeps the heat next to their bodies. This species is one of the few that live along with humans.
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7. Goldeneye ducks and dippers
Springtime brings relief to all the animals that live on the frozen rivers. It gives chance to goldeneye ducks to fish. In the beginning of the spring, they are out in numbers. But these ducks aren't the only one to use the warmer weather. Dippers are also there, bobbing for small bugs and crustaceans.
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8. Siberian salamander
During the spring, the melting ice unleashes one very unique creature. The Siberian salamander is perfectly adapted to the deep freeze. These little lizards have antifreeze-like compounds in their blood which enable these newts to survive temperatures 50 below zero. They can stay frozen solid for years, before thawing and waking up as good as new.
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9. Goitered Gazelle
In areas where pine forests give way to arid plains, we may stumble upon wild horses that ride free, sharing the land with small group of camels and the strange Goitered Gazelle. These nomadic animals can be seen across the plains, eating grasses and shrubs.
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10. Argali
In the southwest region, along the border with Mongolia, there is yet another rare creature living in the mountains. It is the world's largest sheep, the Argali, unique to this part of the world. Well-known for their size and massive horns, today only around 400 of them remained in Russia.
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Image Sources:
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