Wildlife

Reindeer Cull in Siberia

The rise of anthrax from the permafrost this summer in Siberia, plus the risk of overgrazing has prompted officials on the Yamal Peninsula of Siberia to plan a mass cull of 250,000 reindeer by years end, according to a Siberian Times report.

Over the summer some 2400 reindeer died from the bacterial infection, anthrax, in three separate outbreaks which is believed due to an infected animal from decades ago that was thawed during the warmer temperatures this year in Siberia. The anthrax outbreak also affected dozens of nomads in the region and killed one young boy.

The government is not only concerned about the spread of disease, but they also state that the 730,000 reindeer population is too much to be sustainable.