Illustration photo: Atle Staalesen

Wild reindeer on Kola endangered

Murmansk regional authorities want a permanent ban on hunting.
February 18, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

Wild reindeer on the central and eastern part of the Kola Peninsula, in particular within the Terek and Lovozero districts, is suggested to be listed in Russia’s so-called Red Book, enacting to protect rare and endangered species.

In a meeting of the commission on endangered flora and fauna last week, Murmansk regional authorities decided to include the eastern wild reindeer on their proposal to the federal list, Murmanski Vestnik reports.

In 2014, the western population of wild reindeer on the Kola Peninsula was included to the Red Book. The western reindeer are found in the areas from south of Murmansk city towards the border to Finland along the Lotta river and further sourth towards Kovdor district. Poaching, however, still happens and the population has not increased since 2014.

Evgeny Nikora is Deputy Governor of Murmansk Oblast. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

“If the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation supports our proposal, then the entire population of wild reindeer in the Murmansk region will be in the Red Book. Today’s decision will eliminate hunting forever,” Depurty Governor Yevgeny Nikora told Murmanski Vestnik after the meeting he chaired.

Kola Peninsula is the only area in Europe north of the Arctic Circle with wild reindeer. In Scandinavia, there are wild reindeer in southern Norway, with the northernmost populations in the area around Dovre and Rondane.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sections
Climate Crisis

The Barents Observer Newsletter

After confirming you're a real person, you can write your email below and we include you to the subscription list.

Privacy policy