Russia destroyed 250,000 reindeer to prevent anthrax

250,000 reindeer in the Yamalo-Nenet region, Russia will be destroyed before Christmas due to the risk of anthrax infection.

The government of the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region , northwest Siberia, Russia, demanded the destruction of 250,000 reindeer before Christmas due to the risk of anthrax outbreaks, Express reported on September 21.

A total of 730,000 reindeer are being raised in the Yamal Peninsula and the rest of the Yamalo-Nenets region. However, according to local authorities, the number of reindeer raised in the area may be a source of disease transmission.

Large numbers of reindeer in the autonomous region of Yamalo-Nenets, Russia will be destroyed to prevent infection.(Photo: YSIA).

The slaughtering season here usually takes place between November and December. At that time, the reindeer will be shocked with electricity, hung up on the rope and then cut the gauze and scrap. However, a large-scale destruction plan was made early because the reindeer herd has experienced a dangerous anthrax epidemic last summer.

Anthrax kills 2,349 reindeer and a boy in the summer, and local authorities warn it can spread and infect many people due to the rapid increase in reindeer numbers from 400,000 to 700,000.

"The bigger the animals, the more vectors of the disease, the higher the chance of infection. Therefore, we need to adjust the density of animals, especially in the tundra", Nikolai Vlasov, deputy head of the Department. Russian Federation of Plant Quarantine and Veterinary Surveillance, said.

However, many people are concerned that the destruction of cattle can ruin the tradition of long-term reindeer breeding in Yamal."The local families and tribes only have small caribou herds of about a hundred. The destruction can cause many people on the Yamal and Gydan Peninsula to lose their means of living and the ability to maintain the traditional lifestyle." , anthropologist Olga Murashko shared.