| Sea Otters are specially protected on the Commander Islands. These animals have been harvested for their valuable fur in great numbers since the discovery of the islands. At present, the numbers of sea otters on the Commanders is stable due to their protection. |
  photograph by Dmitry Utkin |
| The water area and coastal line of the Commander Islands are unique for their specific diversity of marine mammals. Almost all known families of them are represented. Sea otters, harbor seals and largas are the residents of the islands; rookeries of northern fur seals and Steller's sea lions are being restored. |
 photograph by Dmitry Utkin |
| Many inhabitants of the Commander Islands are rare and listed in the Russian and IUCN Red Data Books. They are harbor seals, sea otters, Arctic foxes (subspecies from Mednyi Island), almost all whale species, glaucous-winged gulls, red-legged kittiwakes, peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, and emperor geese. |
 photograph by Dmitry Utkin |
| About 250 thousand fur seals now inhabit the Commander Islands, which is five to eight times fewer than in the 18th century. Merciless harvest and poaching threatened the very existence of the rookeries. Only joint international efforts aimed at conservation of the fur seals prevented total extermination of the animals. |
 photograph by Dr. Kay Kepler |
| The Commander and Aleutian Islands connect Asia and Northern America. They form a bridge which ensures the dispersal of plants and animals. Flora and Fauna of the islands are represented by unusual combinations of species of Asian and American origin. The Commanders are the extreme eastern point of the range of Asian species. |
 photograph by Dmitry Utkin |
| The Arctic fox (Mednyi subspecies) is extremely curious and impudent. One can hardly imagine that it can be completely destroyed by extensive epizootic lasting over twenty years. |
 photograph by Dr. Kay Kepler |
| Never ceasing hubbub of bird rookeries, commotion in the herds of northern fur seals and Stellar's sea lions, the majestic masters of the coast, and soundless sliding of fish in the transparent water will impress a traveler forever. |
 photograph by Dr. Kay Kepler |
| The scientists are particularly interested in studying the unique fauna of
the Commanders. The islands are inhabited by endemic species, subspecies and
forms of mammals, birds, fishes, and invertebrates. Migration routes of many whale species pass along the island shores. In the coastal waters, the fattening or wintering areas of fifteen toothed whale species and six whalebone whale species (sperm whales, killer whales, Bering Sea and Cuvier's beaked whales, porpoises, lesser finbacks, seiwhales, finwhales, humpbacks, and northern right whales) are located. |