[Regnum] Zoologist and game warden Mikhail Krechmar told Regnum News Agency on Friday, September 25, that to solve the problem of conflict bears, it's worth returning to the practice of culling them on a request-by-claim basis.
According to the expert, the current regulations provide for limited harvesting of animals designated as game animals, including bears. However, lifting the limit does not mean anyone can kill an animal without a permit: a harvest permit will still be required.
"If, for example, a region could harvest 500 bears, then if the corresponding laws are passed, this limit will be lifted. But we forget that 54% of our country's territory is designated hunting grounds. These grounds will issue as many permits as they are entitled to according to their capacity, and their capacity is usually small," Kretschmar explained.
He noted that the capacity of hunting grounds is determined, among other things, by the work of gamekeepers, the condition of the hunting grounds, and other factors. Therefore, in most parts of the country, lifting the limit will make little difference. Hunting grounds will continue to issue permits based on their capabilities.
"The problem is that bears are of no interest to hunters. Lifting the limit won't make them any more attractive to hunters. A hunting permit will still cost money," the game warden stated.
According to Kretschmar, to effectively control bear populations, it's necessary to create conditions for the more rapid elimination of animals that pose a danger to humans. He proposed returning to the practice that existed in the USSR, which allowed for the shooting of conflict bears upon request.
"If villagers thought a bear posed a danger, they would invite a hunter or game warden. He would shoot the bear without any documentation, and then the marketable portion of the product—the skin and head—would be brought to the game inspectorate, turned in, and they would say, 'So, we killed the bear, it posed a danger to us, we're writing it off.' It would be written off, and that would be the end of the formalities," the expert shared.
The specialist added that he himself had worked under such a system and considered it effective. At the same time, he believes that discussion of culling hibernating bears distracts from the main problem.
"This is a problem for trophy hunters, of whom there are 500 in our country. Men don't just go into the forest to track hibernating bears. Besides, they still have to be found. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory alone, more than four hundred bears have been forced to be shot in two weeks due to starvation. I think they'll shoot just as many more," the game warden concluded.
Previously, biologist and zoologist Alexander Lipkovich warned in an interview with Regnum News Agency that the current generation of bears is more aggressive than previous ones. Due to population growth, the bear, a naturally solitary species, encounters its fellow bears more frequently. This keeps the predator constantly on edge—angry and nervous.
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A bear mauled a woman in her garden in Krasnoyarsk Krai.
A bear mauled a woman to death on her property in Krasnoyarsk Krai. This was reported on September 25 by the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the region and the Republic of Khakassia.
The tragedy occurred early in the morning of September 25 in the village of Voznesenka in the Irbeysko-Sayansky municipal district.
According to preliminary information from the department, the 51-year-old woman who owned the house went out onto Central Street and discovered a predator attempting to enter her pet pen. The wild animal immediately attacked the local resident, who died at the scene from severe injuries before paramedics arrived.
The aggressive predator, who was in the yard, was quickly shot with a shotgun by the deceased's neighbor.
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Krasnoyarsk Krai and the Republic of Khakassia is investigating a criminal case of negligence related to predatory attacks on people. The case has been opened under Part 3 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the agency's press service added to MAX.
Earlier, three aggressive predators were eliminated in the city of Abaza in Khakassia. According to Dmitry Buchenik, Deputy Head of the Republic, the predators effectively laid siege to the city, with the animals' emergences recorded from all directions.