A Reintroduction Case Study of the Siberian Marmot (Marmota sibirica Radde, 1862) in the Baikal Region

Translocations and reintroductions are increasingly used to conserve harvested and threatened species under escalating habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and climate change. We report the first reintroduction attempts of the Siberian marmot Marmota sibirica Radde, 1862 in the Uda River basin (the Republic of Buryatia, Russia), aiming to establish viable colonies with future landscape connectivity. In September of 2000–2001, 88 individuals captured in Tarbagatay District were released in Khudak Wildlife Sanctuary after a one‑week holding period, veterinary screening, and transport in small batches. Animals were placed into custom‑designed artificial burrows that minimized immediate dispersal and provided shelter. Autumn monitoring and a spring 2001 count indicated successful initial adaptation: most released marmots were visually confirmed with 25 individually recognizable animals recorded; we have documented dispersal up to 4 km from release sites. The colony persists to this day. In September of 2007, 36 marmots were released in Angir Wildlife Sanctuary. Despite initial use of artificial burrows, the colony subsequently disappeared, likely due to poaching under insufficient protection. These outcomes show that the developed translocation strategy can succeed under suitable ecological conditions and baseline protection (Khudak Wildlife Sanctuary), whereas long‑term persistence critically depends on social readiness and community engagement (Angir Wildlife Sanctuary).