KRASNOYARSK, April 4. /TASS/. Scientists of the Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk) will study the experience of using reindeer husbandry products under a project to study a poorly researched population of wild reindeer on the Taymyr Peninsula in the Krasnoyarsk Region's north, the university's Professor, Doctor of Biology Alexander Savchenko told TASS.

"This summer we will adjust the plans for the expedition to the Taymyr in accordance with the current tasks and challenges," he said. "We need to conduct another regular monitoring to clarify how many wild deer are being harvested now, whether we may increase the production now or reduce it, what exactly is used from harvested deer nowadays - only horns and meat? Where deerskins go and from which settlements it would be best to buy them so that this does not grow into an additional factor of concern <...> and does not cause a misbalance in the Taymyr-Evenki population."

According to him, representatives of the region's northern territories have repeatedly stressed the importance of more effective use of reindeer products. Therefore, the required research could identify how unique are reindeer husbandry products (domestic and commercial). For example, he continued, the media have claimed that deer fur can not only retain heat in Arctic frosts, but "also allows a person dressed in clothes made of deer skins to become invisible for thermal imagers."

"Organized processing and appropriate certification will favor the purchase price and ultimately will reduce the production load. In the meantime, the unique and environmentally friendly product is being exported for actually peanuts," the scientist stressed.

University's studies

Scientists at the Siberian Federal University have been studying wild and domestic deer populations in the Taymyr and Evenki Districts in the region's north for more than 10 years. In November, 2023, at the Russia EXPO the researchers presented results of wild deer studies in the Eastern and Central Taymyr and in Evenkia. Under the project to study the Taymyr-Evenki deer population, the scientists also analyzed how climate change affects the population. Previously, this population was called Taymyr, but the university experts have found that the deer now spend most time in Evenkia.

During this year, scientists will study wild reindeer in the Norilsk Industrial District in the Taymyr Peninsula's western part. Those groups are considered poorly studied both in number and composition. Monitoring there has not been carried out for recent 20 years.

In the study of reindeer populations, scientists count animals off aircraft, use unmanned aerial vehicles, analyze animal migration routes, collect molecular, genetic and biochemical samples. For example, in genetic studies, scientists have proved that the tundra population's deer differ slightly from forest deer in Evenkia's north.

Deer population in the Krasnoyarsk Region

The Krasnoyarsk Region is home to a unique wild reindeer population, which recently has accounted for about 50% of species in Russia and is considered the largest in Eurasia. According to the scientist, the Taymyr-Evenki deer population is subject to fluctuations. For example, in the 2000s, it had 600,000 animals (or 800,000 according to different sources) due to the "collapse of hunting and commercial farms." Presently, the Taymyr-Evenki deer population comprises 320-330 thousand animals, where the estimated optimal number is 480-580 thousand, based on available pastures.