Web outrage over cruel snowmobile chase of moose 'in Magadan region'

A video has sparked shock on the Russian web after showing men on two snowmobiles chase two moose in a thick snowfield before attacking one of the animals and pushing it over. Then they lie on it, pinning it to the ground and pushing its snout into the snow. 

A resident of Yamsk village, Magadan region, said: 'The video was sent to me by a relative. From the first seconds, you can see how the young people on two snowmobiles pursue two young moose. The animals cannot get away from the pursuers in the snow. 

'When the guys corner the animals, one of them attacks the moose, knocking it to the ground. To make sure the animal could not resist, this hunter pushed its snout into the snow. At the same time, young people discussed the idea of tying the animal to a snowmobile and taking it to a village to surprise everyone.'

It is not clear what happened after the footage ended. Police and wildlife watchdogs are seeking to identify the perpetrators - but no serious crime has been committed, it is reported. 

The chasers may only be accused of 'immoral behaviour'. The men were not shown to 'hunt' the moose and 'we do not see any guns', said deputy head of the regional Department of Protection and Supervision of Wildlife, Elena Slobodyanyuk.

'There is no video evidence of any injury or death of moose. We cannot either say that the animals were hit by a snowmobile,' she said. 'They could fall down because of deep snow.'

The video is believed to have been filmed in the Olsk district of the Magadan region.