Sable (Martes zibellina) cz. II

Abstract

The sable (Martes zibellina) is a species considered the most precious and noblest fur animal. In the old days sable fur was called Siberian, "soft gold” or "fluffy gold”. Sable belongs to the Mustelidae family, the genus Martes. The colour of their coat is very variable, from light brown to black. There are over a dozen subspecies of sable varying in colour and quality of the coat. Black Barguzin sables are considered the most valuable. In the wild, sables live in the forests of Siberia, from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean, as well as in Mongolia, China, Korea, and the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Sables are also bred on farms, which are mainly located in Russia. For many years their breeding was covered by the Russian monopoly. Currently, despite the considerable hunting, sable are not threatened with extinction and are included in the LC group (the lowest concern)..