Russian Desman, caught for tagging
Russian Desman, caught for tagging (Desmana moschata). Okski Biospheric Nature Reserve Central Russia, 50 km East from Ryazan town. Two scientists of Okski State Biosphere Nature Reserve: husband and wife Onufrenya, Alexander (Sergeevich) and Maria (Vasilyevna), are tagging a desman, just caught in one of the old river beds of Oka river. Alexander holds the desman by its tail, as it is able to bite, but tolerates unusual suspension for a few minutes. The tool-box in front of Alexander contains tags, special pliers, weights, maps and notebooks. The small cage is a transport cage, where desman may be put if, for example, scientists plan to move an animal from one habitat to another. Tagging is carried out every year in order to keep a record of individual desmans moving in the area from one lake to another, after a desman caught, a small aluminium tag is attached to the desman's tail
