Intensity of Recreational Use of Baikal Seal Pusa sibirica Gm. Coastal Rookery on the Dolgy Island (Ushkany Islands, Lake Baikal)

The Ushkany Islands archipelago is one of the main attractions not only of the Transbaikal National Park ("Reserved Podlemorye"), but also of the entire Lake Baikal. It consists of four islands — Bolshoi Ushkany, Tonky, Krugly and Dolgy. Based on long-term observations on one of the islands of the archipelago Dolgy, we have established a sevenfold increase in the number of people visiting the Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica Gm.) rookery. Thus, the dynamics of visits to seal rookeries from 2013 to 2023 has a steady upward trend from 761 visitors in 2013 to 5551 in 2023. This raises concerns about the growth of the disturbance factor. With that in mind we have shown the need for additional study of the behavior of the Baikal seal in order to develop management decisions aimed at minimizing the negative impact of humans on wild animals.