INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
VIP hunters including senior Russian officials and wealthy businessmen appear increasingly keen to target protected animals and areas across
taken a number of steps to loosen hunting regulations.In March, officials in the northwestern republic of Karelia allocated a portion of
One businessman who stands to reap benefits from it is Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich, who owns a real estate management firm in the
a loophole for affluent hunters to kill rare species for trophies under the guise of scientific research, simply by buying off the necessary
justification papers.The Russian Club of Mountain Hunters, a nonprofit advocating for legal trophy hunting of hoofed animals in the wild,
ex-minister Sergei Yastrzhembsky, current Russian deputies and prominent businessmen among its members.The Russian Club of Mountain Hunters
divisive practice, with its critics questioning the morality of killing animals for recreation and arguing that it harms conservation
efforts.Hunters maintain that their hobby helps maintain ecosystem balance and that hunting fees and duties can help fund nature
After all, this is a threat to human life," he continued.Beyond the ethical concerns, environmentalists warn that trophy hunting is not as
sustainable as its proponents say.Even when it complies with the law, trophy hunting can still harm biodiversity by eliminating the largest
animals, which risks depopulating certain species, said Mikhail Yurchenko, an expert from the International Socio-Ecological Union NGO."Any
hunting disrupts the balance in the ecosystem and pollutes the surrounding environment with hunting ammunition
spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky with a hunting trophy.mossafariclub.ruAs an additional stressor for wildlife, hunting can lead to
management is plagued by poor governmental oversight, unreliable data on population numbers of species permitted to be hunted and a shortage
It's just a thrill for them
shoot everything there and then go bankrupt
Unfortunately, this is not regulated at all
Russia firmly resist various unlawful sanctions imposed by unfriendly states, citizens of these very countries continue to destroy Russian
trophy.huntportal.ruSeveral factors make Russia a destination for foreigners interested in trophy hunting, Sergei Shushunov from the
large areas of untouched natural habitats teeming with vibrant wildlife, lower prices for hunting some species compared to the U.S
and Canada and the opportunity to secure trophies in the wild rather than on game farms, Shushunov said.Russia is also home to a number of
exotic species such as the Asiatic black bear, Caucasian chamois, snow sheep and Siberian ibex, as well as capercaillie and ducks that can
be taken when they are in prime plumage, unlike elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere.Finally, foreign hunters may have greater success rates
taken, Shushunov said.However, the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine have reduced visits by foreign hunters, three hunting
tour organizers told The Moscow Times.Estimates suggest that about 600-700 foreign hunters traveled to Russia in 2021, down from over 2,000
[Since 2022] we have faced complete cancellations of tours
They spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid putting Russia-based staff at risk by discussing the war's impacts on their business.Former
Magadan City Duma deputy Alexander Kramarenko poses with hunted geese arranged to read "Chukotka 2021." Authorities opened a criminal case
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