Aammiq Wetland in order to maintain the health of the vegetation cover and the swamp itself, since buffalo graze wetlands in a more efficient way than other herbivores. The mammals recorded in the region include: southern white-breasted hedgehog ("Erinaceus concolor"), Cape hare ("Lepus capensis"), Caucasian squirrel ("Sciurus anomalus"), Indian porcupine ("Hystrix indica"), gray wolf ("Canis lupus"), red fox ("Vulpes vulpes"), European otter ("Lutra lutra"), European badger ("Meles meles"), striped hyena ("Hyaena hyaena"), mountain gazelle ("Gazella gazella"), wild boar ("Sus scrofa"). Birds: Nearly 260 bird species have been recorded in the Aammiq region either by A Rocha personnel or people working with A
Meles (genus) Primorskii. Genetic studies of mitochondrial DNA shows the separation of two variants on either side of the Volga but their exact taxonomic rank remains undefined. A further study of cheek teeth from individuals across the entire range supports this division and provides confirmation that "M. meles" and "M. anakuma" are indeed separate species. A further species is "Meles thorali" from the late Pleistocene, known only from fossil remains, specimens of which have been found at Saint-Vallier, Drôme, in southeastern France and Binagady, in Azerbaijan. These have large cheek teeth and characteristics intermediate between "M. meles" and "M. anakuma". It is