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Will hunt to kill 3,000 wolves use banned 'poisons'?

By 0 and 0 and 0
15 January 2013

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The three top hunters will receive a one million rouble - or $33,000 - bonus. Picture: Gazeta Yakutia 

An annual operation in the Sakha Republic - also known as Yakutia - has been massively expanded this year and will use helicopters to spot and shoot the burgeoning wolf populations which threatens deer herds and horses. Last year  hunters killed 730 grey wolves but with a state of emergency now in force, the aim in 2013 is to wipe out all but 500 wolves in a territory almost as large as India. 

'Local authorities first announced a three months long hunting season, but quickly prolonged it to 'indefinite', saying that the season will be over only when the number of wolves would come down to 500,' reported Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

The wolves are causing serious losses to deer herdsmen with 16,111 deer lost last year from herds numbering 200,000. Some 314 horses were also lost to wolves. Deer breeders lose around 10,000 roubles, or $330, per animal. 

Yegor Borisov, head of the region, warned people 'are worried like never before' over the wolf threat, stressing: 'We must have a clear plan of how to fight the wolves'.

Reports suggest that the republic's government may appeal to the federal authorities to permit the use of unspecified banned 'special means to kill the animals, including poisons.'

Hunters are being paid rewards to kill the wolves, with bounties of  $660 per adult wolf pelt and $50 for the skin of a cub. Some districts like Verkhoyansk are raising the incentives an extra $300 per pelt. 

The three top hunters will receive a one million rouble - or $33,000 - bonus. Others are promising a snowmobile to the hunter who kills most wolves. 

So far there has been no outcry from animal protectionists. 'There are too many wolves in Russia,' said Vladimir Krever of the World Wildlife Fund.

The hunting teams began getting in place across the region earlier this week in time for the official start of the hunting season on 15 January. 

The season normally lasts three months but this year has been made 'indefinite' until at least 3,000 wolves are slaughtered.

Comments (5)

Out of shape and uneducated they need chemical.
Joe Ogrodnik, Bridgeview Illinois United States
26/01/2013 03:06
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Wolves are a valuable part of the eco syatem and manage there owne population according to available resources. Further more using poison of any kind is a danger to every living thing in the food chain. They are not men that can hunt but uneducated boys that need to eliminate a superior hunter with better morals and skills.
Joseph Ogrodnik, Bridgeview Illinois United States
26/01/2013 03:02
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I think this is bullcrap and they have no right to do that what so ever just some lump of money. I am totally against this.
Brooke, United States
23/01/2013 00:18
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Can't anyone do something about this??!! Killing 3k wolves! :o
Mate, Russia
16/01/2013 05:14
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So if we don't like some animals, we just wipe them out, right? Who's next? Wasps? Mosquitos? If animals rights people are silent on this.....why ? Who gives a right to slaughter these animals? This is outrageous even before they give permission to use poisonous chemicals that will probably wipe out the reindeer herds they're trying to save. Scandalous.
Daisy, NJ
15/01/2013 21:12
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