Translated material
Hunting inspectors in the Altai Territory, due to a lack of manpower and resources, cannot fully control the hunting territories of the region
To effectively combat poaching in the Altai Territory, it is necessary to significantly increase the number of hunting inspectors, as well as provide them with modern equipment and weapons, says Alexei Gribkov, chairman of the public organization Geblerov Ecological Community.
“We have a catastrophe with poaching in our region. Of course, this is a problem not only in our region, but here everything is especially bad. In the Altai Territory, only 23 hunting inspectors in 60 districts of the region are vested with powers to protect natural resources. What can they do in such a situation? To change the situation, it is urgent to increase the number of hunting inspectors to at least 60 people, who must be equipped with communications, snowmobiles and weapons,” A. Gribkov told the Interfax agency on Tuesday.
According to him, inspectors in the region are in no way protected from poachers, who are armed with the most modern weapons and equipment.
“Today poachers have the best snowmobiles and powerful weapons. Our inspectors have neither weapons nor good snowmobiles, and they ride alone. With such equipment, poachers very quickly overtake animals that are defenseless,” A. Gribkov emphasized.
Due to a lack of manpower and resources, hunting inspectors cannot provide adequate control over the hunting territories of the region.
According to hunting user Sergei Rtishchev, about 10 years ago, more than 6.5 thousand protocols were drawn up annually by hunting inspectors in the region. In 2012, just over 1 thousand protocols were drawn up.
“This does not mean that there are fewer violations. Rather, even more. Of this entire mass of violations, only about half reach the courts, where it is also extremely difficult to prove the poacher’s guilt, since there is no clear law enforcement practice. In my opinion, it is necessary not only to increase the number of hunting inspectors, but also to significantly increase the cost of licenses for shooting animals and birds,” S. Rtishchev told the agency.
The area of hunting grounds in the region is more than 16.4 million hectares. More than 80 species of animals living in the region are hunted. Hunting activities are carried out by 80 legal entities on the basis of long-term licenses.