Pine Marten
Martes martes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Order Carnivora.
Family Mustelidae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Endangered EN [A4c,e], BDA-II, III; International: HD-II, V.
General distribution. Europe, Western Siberia, the Caucasus and Asia Minor.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. It inhabits the mountainous regions, in the Ludogorie region it is probably extinct. The numbers have been rapidly declining in the last 30 years [1; 2; Bulgarian Forestries Questionnaire, 1989]. In the 1980s there were about 3 000 individuals [2]. The area of the optimal and suboptimal habitats is under 10 000 sq km, a density of up to 3 individuals at 10 sq km. The numbers (without the cubs) are probably about 1 800 individuals. Most significant are the populations in the Western Rhodope (600 individuals), the Central Balkan range – the genuine Sredna gora (200), Rila (150-200), the Western Balkan range, Pirin and Strandzha (70-90 each). The territorial animals taking part in the breeding constitute about 40% of the population [4].
Habitats. Mainly old, mountainous coniferous (especially spruce) and beech forests over 1 200 m, less often in oak and yoke-elm forests [1; 3; 4].
Biology. The mating season is in the summer; pregnancy lasts 230-270 days; the animals usually start to breed in the third year; the young ones are 3-5 at the average. The young ones may go up to 60 km away from the initial territory [5]; in Central Europe the territories of the mature females are 1.5 sq km at the average, and those of the males 2.3 sq km [6] and may embrace those of more than one female [7]. Basic food: small rodents, birds, squirrels [5; 8].
Similar species. It differs from the stone marten (M. foina) with its (most often) yellowish and non-doubling to the forelegs chest spot, the shorter tail, the large ears and the dark nose.
Negative factors. Intensive restoration felling and reconstruction in the old forests in the last 50 years; fragmentation and isolation of the populations (the Strandzha population is critically endangered) and its ousting by the Stone Marten; accidents on roads; poaching.
Conservation measures taken. The species and its habitats are protected according to the Biological Diversity Act. The Pine Marten is included in the Red Data Book of 1985 as an endangered species. Declaration of vast national and natural parks inhabited by 20% of the population.
Conservation measures needed. Declaration of protected territories and zones for the endangered forest biota in the Western Rhodope, the Balkan range, Pirin, the Ludogorie region and Sredna gora and conservation of old forests in the eco-corridors connecting them. [4]. A moratorium on the use of old forests in the protected territories and zones and in the closed forest basins; restriction of restoration felling and reconstruction in old forests and outside them. Planned increase of the area of centuries-old forests [9]. A common plan with Turkey for a long-term preservation of the forest biota in Strandzha.
References. 1. Spassov, Spiridonov, 1985; 2. Spiridonov, Spassov, 1998; 3. Grigorov, 1986; 4. Spiridonov, Spassov, 2005; 5. Stubbe, 1993; 6. Zalewski et al., 1995; 7. Schroepfer et al., 1997; 8. Priklonskiy, Didorchuk, 2000; 9. Spiridonov, Raev, 2006.
Authors: Nikolai Spassov, Geko Spiridonov
