Trends of Wild Ungulate Population Dynamics in Russia

Abstract

Abstract—Experts of the Tsentrokhotkontrol’ (Central Hunting Inspection of Russia) predicted another reduction in the ungulate (in particular, elk) population size in Russia after 2007–2010 due to the natural cyclical patterns of the climate. The decrease is predicted to “lead to the next significant minimum of the population size on a 100-year scale” in the 2020s (2014–2015 in Central Russia). However, the actual population size is increasing steadily for most species, including the elk, European and Siberian roe deer, red deer, sika deer, and reindeer, regardless of the “trophiclimatic” forecast. The decrease in the wild boar population is not due to climatic changes, but rather to excessive killing of the animals in view of the epizootic outbreak of African swine fever. However, the increase in the ungulate population size is unacceptably slow (less than 3% per year) and the available resources are approximately five times scarcer than the potential. The main factors that restrain population growth are unreasonably active authorized hunting, excessive poaching, and predation. The hunting policy of the government, game management, and resource management are still far from reasonable. Therefore, the ungulate population is not guaranteed against new large-scale decreases in animal numbers.