An Emergency Conservation Mission
In the early 20th century, the global fur trade drove the Barguzin sable, a subspecies of Martes zibellina, to the edge of extinction. Its fur, prized for its silky, dark quality and nicknamed "soft gold," was a major export for the Russian Empire. Unregulated hunting caused a catastrophic decline in the sable population; by 1916, fewer than 40 individuals were estimated to remain in the wild. In response, the imperial government dispatched scientific expeditions to locate the surviving animals and establish a protected zone. An expedition led by Georgy Doppelmair surveyed the northeastern shore of Lake Baikal and the western slopes of the Barguzin Mountains. This work led to the establishment of the Barguzin Sable Reserve by decree on May 17, 1916, making it Russia's first state-run nature reserve, or zapovednik.
The initial goal was narrowly focused: to save and restore the sable population. This mission proved successful, with sable numbers recovering by the mid-1930s. Today, the population within the reserve is estimated at 800 to 1,200 animals. The reserve's success led to its mission expanding to the comprehensive protection of its entire natural complex.