Renard’s Meadow Viper
Status: Category VUA4bc. A subspecies of the south-west Palaearctic species, mosaic distribution in the Black Sea-North Turan region; in Kyrgyzstan - sporadically encountered, with a decreasing population. It is kept in serpentariums for venom extraction - pharmaceutical raw material. The species is included in the IUCN RLTS with the category EN A1c+2c [27] and in the Red Book of Uzbekistan [13], and European populations are listed in Appendix I of CITES [13].
General distribution and in the country. The range of the subspecies extends from the Bug River and the Caucasus to Altai and Chinese Dzhungaria, with a separate part in Central Asia (from the Dzhungar Alatau through the Northern and Western Tien Shan to the Fergana Valley and Eastern Kyzylkum); in Europe, Turkey, Northern Iran, and the Caucasus - other subspecies [1]. In Kyrgyzstan - the foothills of the Kyrgyz Range, in the Talas and Chui valleys (east to the Shamsi River); previously recorded also in Southern Kyrgyzstan [13], southern spurs of the Atoinok Range, in the Ketmen-Tyube Basin and Middle Naryn Hollow [1, 19]. Reports of findings in the Karatal-Japyryk Reserve need confirmation.
Habitat. The inhabited biotopes are quite diverse: various, including high-altitude [1], steppes, ravines, rocky slopes, saltwort semi-deserts, meadow floodplains, water body shores [1], in the mountains up to 1500 m above sea level, clearly avoiding anthropogenic habitats (sensitive to disturbance factors). In the foothills of the Kyrgyz and Talas Ranges and in the valleys of the same name, it inhabits steppe landscapes, adhering to river floodplains and lake shores [19, 20].
Population. In Kyrgyzstan, it is generally low: according to surveys during the breeding period, it does not exceed 3 individuals per transect 4 m wide and 20 km long [20]. Recently, it has not been recorded in several habitats where plowing, mining, or road construction has occurred, as well as in isolated localities.
Life style (life cycles). After hibernation, it appears from March (in the Chui Valley) to mid-April (in the foothills of the Kyrgyz Range and in the Talas Valley) [20]; mating, accompanied by male courtship displays, occurs in April-May. It is a viviparous species, with births (usually 5-6 young) occurring from late July to September. It feeds on insects (Orthoptera), small reptiles (skinks, lizards), and mammals, and occasionally on bird chicks [1, 20, 25], beneficial in controlling rodents and locusts [1]. It is usually active at night, hiding in burrows, crevices between rocks, and hibernates alone or in small groups. It is venomous but poses little danger to humans [1].
Limiting factors. Habitat alteration and increased disturbance (plowing of steppes, agricultural use of water body shores), use of pesticides, and direct persecution by humans [11], including intensified capture for serpentariums, etc. [20].
Breeding (keeping in captivity). Currently, it is not bred in Kyrgyzstan; it was previously kept in serpentariums. Due to its sensitivity to stress, it is rarely kept in terrariums [3, 18]; offspring have been produced multiple times in the Tashkent [11] and other zoos.
Existing conservation measures. Currently, it is not protected in Kyrgyzstan. Small populations may still exist in the Karatal-Japyryk Reserve and in the Tokmak Complex Reserve [20].
Recommended conservation measures. Organization of micro-reserves in wintering and breeding areas. Promotion of species conservation as a predator of agricultural pests, educational work among the local population about the futility of using the species in traditional medicine, and introduction of a ban on capture for any purposes.
Renard’s Meadow Viper
Vipera ursinii (Bonaparte, 1835) ssp. renardi (Christoph, 1861)
Status: Vulnerable (category VUA4bc), this is a north-Turan-Pontian subspecies of the south-west Palaearctic poisonous snake species, endangered in the country (scanty marginal populations in spur of specific area, in zone of anthropogenic transformation of habitats). It is listed in IUCN RLTS and Uzbek Red Book; European populations are included in Appendix I of CITES. The subspecies is spread from the Bug River and Caucasus up to Altai and Chinese Dzhungaria and also in the part of Tien Shan; in Kyrgyzstan it is recorded in Tchu Valley, northern foothills of Alexander Mountain Range, western part of Talas Valley, southern spurs of Atoinok Mountain Range, Ketmen-Tyube and Middle Naryn Hollows; it populates steppes and riversides in plains and low-montane belt but at present it has vanished in many habitats. It is a viviparous species, hibernation finishes in March - April, young snakes appear in August - September. Prey is mostly acridids, lizards, small mammals and sometimes fledglings. Stock in the country is small: up to 3 specimens per transect 20 km X 4 m. Limiting factors: transformation of habitats, disturbance and persecution by people. Breeding in captivity is absent in Kyrgyzstan. At present time it is protected by common routine, possible in Karatal-Japyryk Natural Reserve and in Tokmak wildlife area only. Options offered to protect this species are as follows: creation of micro-reservations, prohibition of export and awareness building work among people about falsity of value for traditional medicine.
