Long-Tailed Tit
Long tail, tight flock, big personality
Wildlife Expeditions
Wildlife of
Wildlife of
Orenburgskaja oblast'
At the Europe-Asia hinge, Orenburg Oblast blends vast feather-grass steppes, Ural River wetlands, and a rare "island" pine forest into one of Russia's most diverse grassland wildlife arenas.
3
Species
123,702 km²
Land Area
Wildlife of Orenburgskaja oblast'
About Orenburgskaja oblast'
Orenburg Oblast has wide open lands: big-sky steppe and forest-steppe where classic Eurasian grassland species still live. River valleys concentrate life in an otherwise dry, inland area. On the Europe–Asia border and next to Kazakhstan, the region mixes European forest-edge animals with steppe and Central Asian species, giving birdwatchers and mammal-watchers a rich mix.
Key habitats include feather-grass (Stipa) steppes and rocky hill steppes, seen in protected sites like Orenburg State Nature Reserve (Orenburgsky) and its Shaitan-Tau cluster. There are many ground-nesting birds, raptors, and burrowing mammals. The Ural River and its tributaries (Sakmara, Ilek) bring floodplain woods, reedbeds, and oxbows that support beavers, many amphibians, and migrating waterbirds. The Buzuluksky Bor pine forest is a large sandy "forest oasis" inside the steppe. Sharp habitat edges, migration routes, and seasonal movements make wildlife sightings especially strong in spring and autumn.
Geography
Orenburg Oblast lies at the Europe-Asia border by the southern Urals. Broad steppe and forest-steppe mix with big river valleys (especially the Ural), open grasslands, wooded ravines, riverside corridors, floodplains, and salty lake basins. A strong continental climate makes habitat belts: steppe animals on plains, forest-edge species in north and uplands, and waterbirds by rivers, reservoirs, and wetlands.
123,702 km²
Land Area
Mid-sized within Russia (roughly around the 30th largest federal subject by area)
Size Rank
Russia
Country
Oblast
Type
Elevation Range
~50 m to ~660 m (lowland river valleys up to Southern Ural uplands)
Key Landscapes
Protected Areas
Orenburg Oblast lies at the Europe–Asia border across steppe and forest-steppe, with rivers (Ural, Sakmara, Ilek) and southern Ural uplands. Large federal strict nature reserves protect feather-grass steppe, rocky river valleys and southern-Ural forest mosaics. Buzuluksky Bor National Park protects a rare island of old pine forest. Regional refuges and protected landscapes guard wetlands, salt lakes and bird migration sites.
Protected Coverage
About 7.6% of the region's land area is under specially protected natural areas (protected areas).
National Parks & Preserves
Buzuluksky Bor National Park
≈106,000 ha (park total; spans Orenburg Oblast and Samara Oblast)A globally unusual, large pine-forest "island" surrounded by steppe. Its mosaic of old pine stands, small rivers, and wetlands supports forest and wetland wildlife uncommon elsewhere in the oblast and offers some of the best large-mammal and woodland bird viewing in the region.
Orenburg Nature Reserve (strict nature reserve)
21,653 ha (total area; multi-cluster reserve)A cluster of strictly protected steppe sites conserving near-pristine feather-grass grasslands, saline depressions, and river-valley steppe habitats-important for steppe birds of prey and cranes and a flagship area for steppe biodiversity conservation in the southern Urals/Trans-Urals region.
Buzuluksky Bor National Park
≈106,788 haA Russian national park protecting the Buzuluk pine forest, a large island of conifer forest within the steppe zone. It is notable for supporting a mix of forest and steppe wildlife and for conserving one of the largest isolated pine forests in Europe.
Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve (strict nature reserve)
≈67,000 haProtects a rugged southern-Ural ridge with a sharp transition from forested slopes to steppe and rocky river valleys-important for woodland/taiga-edge species at the southern limit of their range and for raptors using cliffs and open slopes.
State & Provincial Parks
Sol-Iletsk Salt Lakes protected complex (regional nature monuments / protected-area cluster)
Typically a set of small-to-medium sites (often hundreds to a few thousand ha each, depending on the specific monument boundaries)A distinctive salt-lake system with surrounding steppe habitats. While parts are heavily recreational, protected fragments can be important for migrating and nesting waterbirds and for steppe species using the lake margins and saline meadows.
Iriklinskoye Reservoir shoreline protected landscapes (regional protected areas around the reservoir)
Protected parcels vary by site; the reservoir itself is very large (water area on the order of tens of thousands of ha)Large reservoir and adjacent wetlands/flooded bays that concentrate migrating and breeding waterbirds and support fish-eating raptors; also a stronghold for riparian mammals along connected river mouths.
Ural River valley natural monuments and protected landscapes (regional protected-area network)
A chain of small-to-medium protected sites along the river corridor (sizes vary widely)Riparian forests, oxbows, and floodplain meadows along the Ural form an essential biodiversity corridor in a mostly open-steppe matrix-key for beavers, otters, herons, and migrating waterfowl.
Wildlife Refuges
Iriklinsky State Nature Sanctuary (regional wildlife refuge near Iriklinskoye Reservoir)
Varies by designated protected-area unit; consult the official protected-areas registry entry for the exact area in hectaresRegional refuge-style protection designated as a state nature sanctuary, aimed at conserving habitats around Iriklinskoye Reservoir (especially waterbird concentration and nesting areas) and limiting disturbance during breeding and migration.
Steppe wildlife refuges adjoining Orenburg State Nature Reserve clusters
Typically thousands to tens of thousands of ha when aggregated across multiple refugesRegional refuge tracts that buffer core steppe clusters and help maintain landscape connectivity for steppe mammals and ground-nesting birds, reducing edge effects around strictly protected sites.
Ural-Sakmara riverine refuge-type protected areas (floodplain wildlife refuges)
Varies by site; commonly hundreds to several thousand ha eachFloodplain refuges aimed at protecting riparian woodland, wet meadows, and oxbow-lake systems used by breeding herons, raptors, and semi-aquatic mammals; critical as stepping-stone habitat across the steppe.
Wilderness Areas
- Interior tracts of Buzuluksky Bor National Park (Buzuluk Pine Forest) away from roads (older pine stands and wet depressions with low settlement density)
- Remote feather-grass steppe expanses in the Trans-Ural part of Orenburg Oblast near the Kazakhstan border (including road-poor steppe landscapes in the Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve's Aituar Steppe area)
- Rocky river valleys and ridge country of Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve and adjacent Southern Ural foothills (steep terrain limiting road development)
- Broad, low-disturbance steppe around the Pre-Urals Steppe cluster (Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve; Przewalski's horse reintroduction area) where conservation limits intensive land conversion
- Large, sparsely roaded steppe within other Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve steppe clusters (for example, Burtinskaya Steppe), retaining intact steppe and saline-lake habitats
Wildlife
Orenburg Oblast sits on the Europe-Asia transition in the southern Urals, with vast feather-grass steppe, forest-steppe patches, river valleys (notably the Ural/Yaik and Sakmara), saline lakes, and agricultural landscapes. This mix creates a strongly continental, open-country wildlife character: steppe mammals (burrowers and grazers), exceptional raptor and crane diversity, and migratory waterbirds concentrated on wetlands and river floodplains. Protected steppe fragments (e.g., Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve) are especially important because much of the region's original grasslands have been converted to farmland.
~65-80 species
Mammals
~280-330 species (high due to migration and steppe/wetland mix)
Birds
~10-12 species
Reptiles
~8-11 species
Amphibians
~45-65 species (riverine and reservoir communities)
Fish
Iconic Species
Saiga Antelope
A flagship steppe grazer of the Eurasian grasslands; Orenburg lies on the northern edge of its historical range and is a place where visitors hope to see rare, wide-ranging saiga during cross-border movements and recovery efforts.
Przewalski's Horse
Reintroduced to restore a missing steppe grazer; the Orenburg steppe reintroduction program is one of the best-known in Russia and a major draw for steppe-focused ecotourism.
Steppe Eagle
One of the defining raptors of open steppe landscapes; Orenburg's steppe mosaics support breeding and migration staging, making it a key region for viewing large eagles.
Great Bustard
Iconic and hard-to-see steppe bird; surviving populations use open grasslands and low-disturbance farmland, and sightings are a hallmark of high-quality steppe habitat.
Demoiselle Crane
A characteristic crane of dry steppe and semi-desert; breeding and migration occurrences make it one of the most sought-after birds in the region's open plains.
Saker Falcon
A classic steppe falcon that hunts over grasslands and agricultural edges; notable in Orenburg as part of the wider Eurasian steppe raptor community.
Bobak Marmot (Steppe Marmot)
A keystone burrowing mammal of the steppe; its colonies shape grassland structure and provide prey for eagles and foxes, and it is among the most visible steppe mammals.
Moose (Elk)
Represents the forest-steppe and riparian woodland side of Orenburg; more likely in northern/riverine habitats, adding to the region's sharp steppe-woodland contrast.
Endemic & Rare Species
Notable Populations
- Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve (and associated steppe clusters) protects some of the most intact steppe fragments in Russia's southern Urals, supporting representative steppe bird and mammal communities.
- Przewalski's horse reintroduction in the Orenburg steppe is nationally significant as a high-profile steppe restoration effort.
- The region is important for steppe raptors (including Steppe Eagle and Saker Falcon) and for migratory concentrations of cranes, geese, and other waterbirds along river valleys and wetlands.
- Ural River fish assemblages (including sturgeon such as sterlet) are nationally significant due to the river's role as a major corridor between Ural headwaters and the Caspian basin.
Recent Changes
- Przewalski's horse has been reintroduced and managed for establishment in protected steppe areas (a major, ongoing restoration initiative).
- Saiga occurrences have been variable at the Russia-Kazakhstan border: some years show increased cross-border movements/temporary range expansion, while overall vulnerability remains high due to poaching pressure and periodic mass-mortality risks in the wider population.
- Ongoing conversion/intensification of steppe and disturbance (roads, energy infrastructure, frequent fires) has contributed to continued pressure on steppe birds (e.g., bustards and some raptors) through habitat loss, nest disturbance, and prey-base changes.
- Raptor mortality risk from power lines remains a key factor in steppe landscapes; mitigation (retrofitting/safer designs) is an important management trend where implemented.
- Riparian recovery and protection in some areas has supported stable or increasing local presence of adaptable mammals (e.g., beaver in suitable river stretches), while wetland water-level variability increasingly affects breeding success and stopover quality for waterbirds.
Wildlife Viewing
Orenburg Oblast in the southern Urals sits on the Europe–Asia border. It has feather‑grass steppe, chalk hills, river valleys (Ural/Yaik, Sakmara, Ilek) and Buzuluksky Bor pine forest. Wildlife includes marmots, foxes, steppe raptors, cranes, bustards, beavers, waterbirds, elk (moose), wild boar, owls and woodpeckers. Orenburg Nature Reserve protects steppe and helps bring back Przewalski’s horse.
Best Seasons
Spring (April-May)
Best all-around season for wildlife variety: peak bird migration along rivers and wetlands, courtship/display behavior in open country, and spectacular steppe wildflowers. Comfortable daytime temperatures make long observation sessions and photography easier. Good time for raptors, cranes, and general birding in forest-steppe edges.
Early summer (June)
Steppe is lush and alive with insects and songbirds; excellent time for steppe landscapes, morning wildlife activity, and raptor watching. Longer daylight hours favor multi-site itineraries (steppe + river + forest in one trip).
High summer (July-August)
Hot, dry conditions push activity into dawn and dusk-ideal for dedicated photographers who can work golden hours. Rivers and lakes concentrate wildlife (waterbirds, beavers) and can be productive for hides/shoreline observation.
Autumn (September-October)
Second major migration window for birds; crisp air improves visibility on open steppe. Forest scenes in Buzuluksky Bor turn photogenic; mammal activity can increase around feeding and movement corridors. Great time for mixed trips (pine forest + river valleys + steppe).
Winter (November-March)
A niche but rewarding season for tracking and quiet forest walks-fresh snow makes mammal signs easy to read (fox, hare, possible wolf/ungulate tracks). Look for wintering owls, finches, and woodpeckers in pine forests; dress for strong winds and deep cold.
Top Wildlife Experiences
- Przewalski's horse reintroduction area visit (Pre-Urals Steppe cluster, Orenburg Nature Reserve): join an official excursion (when available) to learn steppe restoration and scan for horses and steppe wildlife from designated viewpoints.
- Steppe raptor watch in the Orenburg Nature Reserve clusters (e.g., Burtinskaya/Aituarskaya steppe areas depending on access): early morning scan sessions for eagles, harriers, and other open-country hunters; combine with wildflower and landscape photography in spring.
- Marmot and steppe fox spotting on open grasslands (reserve buffer zones and permitted steppe routes): set up a scope at a safe distance and watch colony activity, alarm calls, and predator interactions-best in late spring/early summer.
- Birding the Ural (Yaik) River floodplain near Orenburg city and downstream stretches: work river bends, oxbows, and reedbeds for waterfowl, herons/egrets (seasonal), and migrating passerines; sunrise is typically most productive.
- Buzuluksky Bor National Park (pine forest wildlife day): follow marked eco-trails and quiet forest roads for elk/moose sign, wild boar rooting areas, beaver activity on waterways, and a strong lineup of owls/woodpeckers; best in early morning or late afternoon.
- Chalk/rocky steppe and ravine habitats (regional natural monuments where accessible): search contrasting micro-habitats for specialized steppe birds, butterflies, and botanical highlights; excellent for macro + landscape combinations in spring.
- Salt-lake and wetland birding around Sol-Iletsk (seasonal): focus on shorelines and reedbeds for concentrations of waterbirds during migration; combine with a relaxed, family-friendly nature day (best spring/autumn).
Wildlife Watching Types
Guided Options
- Orenburg Nature Reserve (strict nature reserve) guided excursions: ranger-led visits to specific steppe clusters and interpretive programs focused on steppe ecology; access is typically regulated and may require advance booking/permits.
- Pre-Urals Steppe / Przewalski's horse program visits (via official reserve channels): educational tours when offered, focused on reintroduction, monitoring, and steppe restoration (rules and seasonal availability apply).
- Buzuluksky Bor National Park visitor programs: guided eco-trail walks and seasonal naturalist activities through park administration/visitor centers (good for families and first-time visitors).
- Local birding and photo-guides based in Orenburg: custom day trips to Ural River floodplains, steppe viewpoints, and seasonal migration sites; useful for logistics, hides, and timing wildlife activity.
- University/NGO-led nature excursions (seasonal, variable): watch for announcements from regional nature education centers and museums-often strong on botany, steppe biodiversity, and citizen-science style bird walks.
- Shaytan-Tau area guided nature routes (where access is organized): small-group hikes emphasizing southern Ural foothill/forest-steppe biodiversity and raptor viewpoints; confirm entry rules and trail status in advance.
Ecosystems
Orenburg Oblast lies where Europe meets Asia in the southern Urals, from forest-steppe in the north to dry steppe near Kazakhstan. A continental climate—cold winters, hot summers, occasional drought—supports grasslands. Life concentrates in Ural, Sakmara and Ilek river valleys with floodplains, wetlands and riparian woods. Eastern uplands add rocky slopes, ravines and patchy forests; lowlands are mostly farmed.
Biomes
Temperate Grassland
The region is mainly steppe and forest-steppe with feather-grass (Stipa) and fescue-wormwood grasslands, dry steppe in the south and wetter meadow-steppe north; many patches are protected, but much land is cropland or pasture.
Widespread; the majority of the oblast, especially central and southern parts (roughly ~60-80% as natural biome, though much is converted/fragmented).
Temperate Forest
Forest-steppe and riparian broadleaf/mixed forests: birch-aspen groves, oak/linden patches in suitable sites, and extensive riverine forests (willow, poplar, alder) along floodplains. Forest occurs as islands and belts rather than continuous cover.
Patchy; most common in the northern forest-steppe and along major river valleys (roughly ~10-25% of area in natural distribution).
Freshwater
Large river systems (notably the Ural and its tributaries such as the Sakmara and Ilek), oxbows, floodplain lakes, and reservoirs provide key aquatic habitat and migration corridors in an otherwise grassland-dominated region.
Linear and localized; concentrated along river corridors and around reservoirs/lakes (small percentage of total area but high ecological importance).
Wetland
Floodplain wetlands, reedbeds, wet meadows, and seasonally inundated depressions; includes oxbow wetlands along the Ural and tributaries and smaller marshy basins in steppe lowlands.
Scattered and mostly river-associated; locally extensive in floodplains but limited overall (generally a few percent or less of total area).
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
Not a dominant biome, but small enclaves of coniferous elements (e.g., pine on sandy terraces or uplands) and mixed forests can occur near the northern/eastern transitions; functionally marginal compared with true taiga zones farther north.
Very limited and localized (minor enclaves).
Habitats
Steppe
Feather-grass and fescue-wormwood steppe across plains and rolling uplands; includes dry steppe near the Kazakhstan border and meadow-steppe mosaics northward. Key conservation value in remaining unploughed tracts.
Grassland
Meadow grasslands and pasturelands (often secondary or managed), including floodplain meadows and hayfields; important for ground-nesting birds and pollinators where management is compatible.
Shrubland
Wormwood-dominated and shrub-steppe patches on drier soils, saline spots, and disturbed ground; includes steppe shrubs in ravines and on slopes.
Woodland
Forest-steppe groves and shelterbelt-like tree lines: birch/aspen copses, occasional oak patches, and mixed stands in moister microhabitats and on northern slopes.
Deciduous Forest
Riparian and floodplain forests dominated by willow, poplar, alder, and birch; provides crucial shade, bank stabilization, and habitat connectivity along rivers.
Coniferous Forest
Localized pine stands on sandy river terraces or uplands (where present), often forming small, isolated blocks amid steppe/agricultural lands.
River/Stream
Ural River and tributaries (Sakmara, Ilek, others): braided/meandering sections, riparian zones, and oxbows; key for fish, waterbirds, and beaver-like ecosystem engineering where present.
Lake
Floodplain lakes and oxbows plus steppe lakes/ponded depressions; many are shallow and seasonally variable, supporting reeds and waterfowl.
Pond
Small farm ponds, artificial impoundments, and seasonal pools in steppe depressions; often important breeding sites for amphibians and invertebrates.
Wetland
Reedbeds, wet meadows, and marshy floodplains-especially along the Ural and tributaries-supporting waterbirds and acting as drought refugia.
Marsh
Shallow, vegetated margins of oxbows and floodplain basins with emergent vegetation (reeds, sedges), often expanding/contracting with annual floods.
Cliff/Rocky Outcrop
Rocky river bluffs and outcrops in upland/eastern areas; provide nesting/roosting sites and unique xeric plant communities on exposed faces.
Cave
Small karst features and cavities can occur locally in limestone/gypsum-bearing areas of the Urals forelands; important for bats and specialized invertebrates where present.
Mountain
Low mountain and upland terrain of the southern Urals/eastern oblast with dissected valleys and rocky slopes, creating microclimatic refugia and habitat heterogeneity.
Agricultural/Farmland
Extensive croplands (grain and other field crops) and managed pastures dominate much of the plains; primary driver of steppe fragmentation and soil erosion risk in exposed areas.
Urban
Urban/industrial nodes (e.g., Orenburg, Orsk, Novotroitsk) with associated disturbed lands and green spaces; localized but influential via pollution and river impacts.
Ecoregions
Conservation
Primary Threats
- Conversion and re-conversion of steppe/forest-steppe to cropland and associated field enlargement reduce native grassland mosaics; intensive grazing near settlements and watering points simplifies plant communities and can degrade saiga and bustard habitat.
- Native steppe persists largely as isolated fragments (ravines, saline patches, military lands, reserve clusters). Fragmentation reduces breeding success for ground-nesting birds (bustards, harriers) and limits movement of steppe mammals across the Russia-Kazakhstan border.
- Hotter, drier summers and more frequent drought years heighten steppe fire risk, reduce forage productivity, and exacerbate water scarcity in small rivers and floodplains; these effects are especially acute in open steppe districts and along the Ural's tributaries.
- Altered fire regimes (human-caused spring/summer burns), local drainage/infilling of wetlands, and floodplain modification affect breeding and stopover habitats for waterbirds and the hydrology needed by riparian species in the Ural basin.
- Water withdrawals for cities, industry, and irrigation (plus low-water years) reduce flow in tributaries, concentrate pollutants, and can degrade floodplain wetlands that function as migration and spawning habitats.
- Industrial emissions and legacy contamination around industrial centers, oil-and-gas infrastructure risks (leaks/spills), and agricultural runoff (fertilizers/pesticides) affect soil and water quality-particularly in river valleys and near extraction/processing sites.
- Mining and quarrying (and associated waste/road networks) directly remove habitat and increase dust/noise disturbance; site footprints and spoil areas can fragment steppe and impact small watersheds feeding the Ural system.
- Linear infrastructure (roads, rail, pipelines, fences) fragments steppe and can impede saiga movements; overhead powerlines create collision/electrocution risk for steppe eagles, saker falcons, and other large birds.
- Poaching pressure persists for high-value or traditionally hunted species (notably saiga for horns; also illegal take of steppe game). Even low levels can be significant for slow-reproducing or already depleted populations.
- Illegal trade incentives are most relevant for saiga horn and occasionally for raptors (falconry demand), increasing cross-border enforcement needs with Kazakhstan.
- In the Ural River system, illegal harvest and bycatch pressure threaten sensitive fish (including sturgeons/sterlet where present); reduced spawning success is compounded by low-water periods and habitat alteration.
- Off-road driving, unregulated recreation, and high springtime disturbance near nesting areas (steppe and wet meadow) can cause nest abandonment by bustards and raptors; recreation pressure is notable in accessible areas of Buzuluksky Bor and river floodplains.
- Predator-livestock conflict (e.g., wolves) drives retaliatory killing; saiga movements can lead to localized crop damage and fence conflicts, complicating tolerance in border districts.
- Disease outbreaks affecting saiga (notably pasteurellosis events documented in the broader saiga range) and spillover risks from livestock (parasites, infections) are a concern where domestic animals share grazing and watering points.
- Weedy invasives and synanthropic species spread along transport corridors, disturbed soils, and riverbanks; they can displace native steppe flora and alter habitat structure important for steppe specialists. Non-native fish introductions can also disrupt riverine communities.
- In forested pockets-especially pine-dominated Buzuluksky Bor-illegal cutting, fuelwood collection, and post-fire salvage pressures can reduce old-growth structure and increase fragmentation, affecting forest-steppe biodiversity.
- Expansion around Orenburg and other towns increases habitat sealing, light/noise disturbance, and recreational load on nearby river corridors and steppe remnants; it also adds demand for water and aggregate materials.
- Small, isolated populations of steppe specialists in fragmented habitats risk reduced gene flow; this is especially relevant for localized breeding groups of rare ground-nesting birds and for any fenced/isolated mammal subpopulations.
Did You Know?
In treeless steppe, forest birds like the Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) make nests on the ground or low mounds when trees are gone, a choice that looks risky but works in open areas with wide views.
Steppe marmots and ground squirrels dig burrows that make permanent underground homes used by foxes, corsac-like steppe predators, reptiles, and burrowing owls. Soil around colonies grows different plants than the grassland.
Salt lakes near Sol-Iletsk look strange. Their extreme salt levels keep out fish but fuel big blooms of salt-loving microbes and brine shrimp (Artemia), which attract waders and other waterbirds.
In spring the steppe can be loud even when it looks empty: larks, pipits and wheatears use display flights and long songs, so you hear territorial males long before you see them.
Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) live mostly in Kazakhstan but sometimes come into the Orenburg–Kazakhstan border steppes near their former Russian range. Their big, flexible nose warms and filters dusty steppe air.
Orenburg Oblast runs Russia's first state program to bring back the Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) at Orenburgsky Nature Reserve's Pre-Urals Steppe. Horses arrived in 2015 and soon had foals; they now live free again.
After adding the Pre-Urals Steppe, Orenburgsky State Nature Reserve became a large steppe complex of five separate clusters adding up to about 38,000 hectares, one of the largest protected virgin steppe systems in European Russia, covering several steppe types.
The Pre-Urals Steppe herd is among the northernmost free-ranging Przewalski's horse populations on Earth (the project runs at ~51-52°N), meaning these horses must cope with harsher winters than most other reintroduction sites.
Orenburg's borderland steppes sit at the western edge of the global range of several "Kazakh steppe" specialists; for example, the Black Lark (Melanocorypha yeltoniensis) reaches some of its westernmost regular breeding in the Orenburg-Kazakhstan steppe belt.
Orenburg sits in the Europe–Asia transition, where European and Asian groups meet. The Urals-steppe margin is a key boundary showing overlap and sometimes hybridization between European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus).
Animals Found in Orenburgskaja oblast'
3 species documented in our encyclopedia