Mantaritza Biosphere Reserve biotic province. The varied fauna includes brown bear "(Ursus arctos)" , red deer "(Cervus elaphus)", roe deer "(Capreolus capreolus)", wild boar (Sus scrofa), pine marten "(Martes martes)", European badger "(Meles meles"), hazel grouse "(Bonasa bonasia)", black woodpecker "(Dryocopus martius)" and European crested tit "(Parus cristatus)". This area has been little affected by man. Before the biosphere reserve was designated in 1977, small-scale selective cutting took place and water reservoirs were constructed. This biosphere reserve is currently under revision. Mantaritza Biosphere Reserve Mantaritza Biosphere Reserve () is situated to the north of Golyama Syutka Peak in the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria,
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