Starvation Threat to Yamal Deer Population

01.06.2009 — News

YaNAO.

There is not enough room for deer pasture in the Yamal tundra. The food shortage may lead to a serious death toll in the deer population.

The world biggest population (more than 700 thousand animals) of the North domesticated deer lives now in Yamal. High demand for the Yamal venison in Russia and in the European countries has stimulated the animal breeding over the recent years. The deer population has almost quadrupled since 2003.

The Authorities of the Autonomous Okrug recommended the reindeer herders not to breed more than 400 deer per family. Some indigenous inhabitants have exceeded the limit two to threefold. As a result there are more than 200 thousand "excessive" animals on the pastures.

The regional Government told RusBusinessNews that there is a danger of animal mortality due to the food shortage. The culling of the "excessive" animals may serve as the way out of the critical situation.