In a fast-paced world where climate change and other challenges seem to be making things worse and worse, it is often unexpected to hear that nature is not diminishing but increasing its presence. This is the case with wolves in Yakutia, whose population is steadily growing, sparking a debate about legal boundaries and ethical hunting practices.
In recent years, wolves in Yakutia have shown a steady increase in their numbers. According to estimates in the region, the number of wolves can range from 9,000 to 12,000 individuals. Hunters claim that for every 500-600 wolves hunted down yearly, more than 800 pups are born.
We are often surprised by facts such as animals in the Arctic not being afraid of industrial activity. In the case of wolves, there is also a surprising contradiction. There are different assumptions as to why wolf density and quantity regulate themselves and grow so fast.
Wolf packs seem to have a strong correlation with the amount of prey. In the case of Yakutian households, where animal husbandry is one of the main occupations, the amount of 'prey' for wolves constantly grows. Hence, the population of wolves possibly increases proportionally to human households.
In Russia, the indigenous peoples whose main occupation is reindeer husbandry, have faced high losses due to the wolves’ attacks. For example, in 2017, traditional households lost approximately 140 million rubles because of the growing wolf population. This year, indigenous herders in Yamal even created a petition and wrote a letter to the president after 15 reindeer were found dead.
In general, in 2022, 6,711 cattle in Yakutia were hunted by wild animals, and 5,801 of those were accounted to wolves.
For comparison, the situation with wolves in Canada, a country with the second-largest wolf population in the world, is quite different. It seems that wolf population is not as high, but wolves also cause problems, particularly for farmers and ranchers. There is also some experience in wolf reduction programs for the sake of conserving caribou populations, but nothing more substantial.
As for the bordering Washington state, returning populations of wolves only have a small impact on white-tailed deer populations, a study shows.
So, for Yakutian hunters, there is no international experience in the field, with the case being quite unique.
There is an obvious need to regulate the number of wolves, but there are legal obstacles that do not make the process easy. In Soviet practice, regulation was done using poison and traps and through the means of aerial hunting, but now these methods are prohibited by law. Traps are only allowed when the hunter gets a special regulation permit.
Moreover, to hunt a wolf that attacked cattle, an individual must get a three-day license and hunt down the animal. In other cases, the hunter will be considered a poacher.
A possible solution to the dilemma is to adjust the law to regional needs, but there are currently no efforts in that field. The experience of the Soviet system of environmental management is also almost inapplicable to the present situation.
Yakutian hunters say that they are losing the battle with wolves and will soon "forget the taste of venison and foal."
The Editorial Board of the Arctic Century
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