Interventions & adaptive management
The project’s main intervention is to rewild the landscape with megafauna that mimic those that once roamed the mammoth steppe. There are currently a number of herbivore species living in the park including reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), moose (A. a. burulini), Yakutian horses (Equus ferus caballus), tundra wolves (Canis lupus albus), and brown bears (Ursus arctos collaris). Unfortunately there have been strong hunting pressures in the past, which have kept the populations of these animals low, and have directly affected their ability to naturally influence the landscape (Gerasimov, 1980). Musk ox ( Ovibos moschatus), wapiti (Cervus canadensis), and bison (Bison bison) have also all recently been introduced to the park in small numbers. Bison are a very important addition to the park as they were abundant in the ancient grassland environment. Once a significant population of all herbivore species are present, there are hopes of releasing Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) into the park to help regulate the number of wolves (Zimov, 2007; Zimov, 2005). The park is currently attempting to increase the herbivore density as the numbers that are present today are not significant enough to disturb the land in a transitionary way.
Management practices include the simulation of mammoth movement throughout the park, accomplished using an army tank. Interestingly, new grasses were found to grow in the disturbed areas where the tank had been, suggesting that mammoth’s influenced plant composition in the area (Wolf, 2008). By disturbing the soil, large herbivores allowed new grass seeds to easily break through the mossy, nutrient poor top-soil, and grow from the thawed underlying nutrient rich soils that were uncovered by such disturbance. These grasses are able to prevent erosion, but more importantly they are essential in the prevention of permafrost degradation in these areas. This is because the more robust root systems of these grasses stabilize the soil, and trampling exposes the ground to colder temperatures that prevent permafrost from melting (Zimov, 2007) .
Pleistocene Park is still in relatively early stages and is experiencing some small problems. Their musk ox populations as of October 2014 - although very healthy - are in dire need of females; all but one of the European bison that were introduced to the park died during their first winter in 2013; and all of the Wapiti that were introduced to the park jumped over the 2.5 meter fence surrounding the park, never to be seen again. Small adjustments are being made, such as looking into introducing Canadian bison which are more accustomed to colder winters (Kronberg, 2014). Pleistocene Park currently requires extensive intervention and management, however it could be increasingly self-sustaining in the future if the animals being introduced begin to effectively alter and adapt to their new landscape.
Management practices include the simulation of mammoth movement throughout the park, accomplished using an army tank. Interestingly, new grasses were found to grow in the disturbed areas where the tank had been, suggesting that mammoth’s influenced plant composition in the area (Wolf, 2008). By disturbing the soil, large herbivores allowed new grass seeds to easily break through the mossy, nutrient poor top-soil, and grow from the thawed underlying nutrient rich soils that were uncovered by such disturbance. These grasses are able to prevent erosion, but more importantly they are essential in the prevention of permafrost degradation in these areas. This is because the more robust root systems of these grasses stabilize the soil, and trampling exposes the ground to colder temperatures that prevent permafrost from melting (Zimov, 2007) .
Pleistocene Park is still in relatively early stages and is experiencing some small problems. Their musk ox populations as of October 2014 - although very healthy - are in dire need of females; all but one of the European bison that were introduced to the park died during their first winter in 2013; and all of the Wapiti that were introduced to the park jumped over the 2.5 meter fence surrounding the park, never to be seen again. Small adjustments are being made, such as looking into introducing Canadian bison which are more accustomed to colder winters (Kronberg, 2014). Pleistocene Park currently requires extensive intervention and management, however it could be increasingly self-sustaining in the future if the animals being introduced begin to effectively alter and adapt to their new landscape.