ANIMAL SPECIES PROTECTION
The Park preserves species diversity of animals through protecting their habitats. Moreover, it protects fauna in an active way which is adapted to the
specificity and needs of individual groups of fauna. An example of active protection is establishing substitute habitats for a dozen species of
insects breeding in clay substratum. The substitute habitats are clay constructions placed in the different parts of the Park’s area. These constructions
are an asylum for insects which have so far inhabited the clay walls of farm buildings. Such farm buildings are nowadays seen rarely.
The active protection of amphibians consists in, among others, providing them with places for reproduction. Research on the arrangement of various species
of amphibians has shown that the biggest number of the European tree frogs occurs in the region of Sobolewo village. A substantial number of them used to
mate in a shallow and densely overgrown small water reservoir which sometimes dried out. As a consequence, many tadpoles died. With the effort of the Park,
this reservoir has been deepened and its bottom has been formed in a way ensuring the optimal use of the small pond by the amphibians.
Apart from protecting reproduction places, another method of active protection is reducing the mortality of amphibians during their migrations from their
wintering places to water reservoirs. In spring the Park’s workers with the help of pupils from local schools place on the trails of amphibians small, low
fences which prevent amphibians from entering the road, where they would be run down with vehicles. Gathering amphibians are taken to the other side of the
roadway where they are able to safely continue their migration.
Although the number of old trees in forests of the Park is still increasing, the number of trees with nests is still low. That is why foresters hang in
many places nesting boxes, thus making it possible for many species of birds to hatch. Their size varies from the smallest ones, intended for tits,
to really big ones, where birds such as the common goldeneye or the common merganser nest.
Regulations concerning sailing are subjected to the aims of the protection of aquatic birds. Tourists can sail on the waters of Lake Wigry and other
reservoirs only when the birds nesting in the shoreline zone finish their hatching.
Another form of animals’ protection is establishing zones protecting their refuges, their reproduction places or places where animals stay regularly. In
the area of the Park, three such zones have been established around the nests of the sea eagles. The radius of each zone is 200 meters during the
whole year, while in the period from 1 January until 31st July is 500 meters. The protective zones ensure birds’ peaceful hatching and bringing
up their young.
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