This decision was made due to the last snow cyclone in the region. As Alexei Surovy, Primorye Deputy Minister of Forestry and Hunting, and Sergei Aramilev, General Director of the Amur Tiger Center, explained, when the snow cover becomes abnormally high, the animals have to spend more energy moving around and searching for food. At this point, they become too easy targets for hunters.
“Producing animals that are in a defenseless position cannot be called hunting; this is a criminal offense for which the perpetrators will be held accountable by law. I ask citizens to treat the closure of hunting with understanding. This is a forced measure intended to preserve wildlife in an emergency”, – explained Alexei Surovyy.
Sergei Aramilev also believes that interrupting the hunting season is the right decision. This is important for the conservation of breeding stock. In addition, ungulates are also the main food supply for the Amur Red Book tiger.
Employees of the State Hunting Inspectorate during the ban will work in an enhanced mode. The vice minister recalled that offenders face serious responsibilities for illegal hunting, including criminal liability.
