In Yamal in early April, a massive death of deer was recorded. So far, several hundred animals are known to have died, although this data has not been officially confirmed. Behind last years This has already happened twice: in 2014 - then about 70 thousand deer died - and in 2016, when reindeer herders were missing 2.5 thousand animals. If in the first case the cause was lack of food, then in the second, the anthrax epidemic led to the mass death of animals, which also affected people.
What is happening now in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and whether we should be afraid of a new epidemic - the portal website looked into it.
Helicopter with food and vaccines
A special helicopter with veterinarians, specialists from the Arctic Research Center and officials went to the reindeer herding communities of the Yamal region of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug on Sunday, April 1. The reason, as reported by the New Day agency, was an appeal from reindeer herders - they reported cases of mass death of animals at the end of March.
It may take several days to fly over all the farms, but now, according to local media, experts have confirmed the death of the animals. Located in Salekhard Scientific center Arctic studies portal website confirmed that their specialists are indeed located in reindeer herding communities, but noted that no additional information, including the number of dead deer and possible reasons, they cannot provide it yet.
So far, the media, citing the head of the local reindeer-breeding enterprise Yamalskoye, are reporting several hundred heads. According to a preliminary version, the cause could be a hard crust that formed in the tundra due to strong temperature changes and hid the reindeer reindeer moss underneath.
“Deer are weak. It is impossible to move on them or deliver anything. Over the last 2-3 weeks the death rate has begun. We thought that this would stop, but the frosts did not subside. The snow cover is dense, and the deer are weakened due to hunger and frost, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to get to food,” Ura.ru quotes Tatyana Vysokos, head of the reindeer herding enterprise Yamalskoye MNP.
State reindeer herding communities should have food reserves for this case; it is unknown whether private reindeer herders have them. Veterinarians bring mineral supplements and vaccines to reindeer herding farms - in 2016, an anthrax epidemic occurred in Yamal.
Remembering 1941
Yamal is home to the largest number of domestic reindeer in the world - now there are about 600 thousand of them. At the same time, the population density is relatively low. Traditionally, nomadic reindeer herders spend months driving their herds along circular routes in the tundra, practically without intersecting with their neighbors.
There are also several foci of anthrax located here. This disease has been known since ancient times, and the first major epidemics were recorded in Siberia at the end of the 18th century.
Today, the burial places of animals that died in the 1890s are known - according to some experts, these burial grounds can still pose a danger. For humans, the risk of infection arises not only from contact with an infected animal, but also from using its skin or fur, eating its meat, or simply coming into contact with soil containing anthrax spores.
In March 2018, the chief veterinarian from neighboring Norilsk, Alexander Samandas told Zapolyarnaya Pravda that in total about a thousand anthrax cattle burial grounds have been registered in Russia. Approximately 400 of them are located in the Arctic and subarctic territories, which includes Yamal.
In the 20th century, the last major outbreak of anthrax in Yamal was registered in 1941. After this, the disease did not make itself felt for a long time, but in 2016, almost 2.5 thousand domestic reindeer died here as a result of the epidemic. People were also affected: almost 100 people were hospitalized with suspected anthrax, and the diagnosis was confirmed in 24 of them. A 12-year-old child died from the disease.
According to Alexander Samandas, main reason then the ice began to melt in the burial places of infected animals. In 2017, local authorities were also warned by Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev that unregistered cattle burial grounds could end up in the flood zone during the next spring floods.
Pestilence Map
Immediately after the epidemic, the authorities of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug promised to designate burial places for infected animals, and at the end of March 2018, the press service of the governor of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug reported on the creation electronic card cattle burial grounds, which was also transferred to Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor. According to officials, nomadic reindeer herders familiarized themselves with the document. In addition, the region introduced compulsory vaccination livestock
The problem, however, is that animals that die from anthrax must be buried in a special way to prevent the disease from spreading in the future. In 2016, in most cases, this procedure was not followed by reindeer herders. Formally, there is only one cattle burial ground on the territory of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, it is located in Novy Urengoy. Everything else is the so-called pestilence fields. The areas where animal deaths were recorded and which experts fenced off, marked with warning signs and also marked on the map. At the same time, it is possible that the places where wild reindeer died, as well as animals belonging to private reindeer herders, still remain unaccounted for.
That is, there are most likely more potentially dangerous areas in the tundra than the authorities were able to identify. And any of them can “open up” during the next flood.
Spring famine
However, the largest Lately the case of mass death of deer in the Yamal region of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, apparently, to anthrax had no relation. In 2014, about 70 thousand animals died there due to lack of food. Reindeer herders and local journalists still call that year the famine.
It is possible that a similar situation is now developing - experts who went to the reindeer herding farms have allegedly already confirmed that the crust in the tundra is really strong - so much so that it can withstand the weight of a helicopter. Therefore, it is likely that deer simply cannot break through it with their hooves to get to the food.
Veterinarian and reindeer husbandry specialist Andrei Podluzhnov, in a conversation with the website portal, noted that the death of livestock in the spring is a common occurrence, and not only for reindeer herders.
At the end of spring, food runs out. And if the farmer miscalculated somewhere, something happened and the feed was not preserved, the end of spring is the moment when all this will have an impact,” the expert said.
In addition, he said, it is at this time that female deer need especially a lot of energy due to the late stages of pregnancy - most of them should calve within the next month and a half. In this case, too much snow cover or too hard crust can have a serious impact. Even if an animal can reach the reindeer moss, it spends more energy in the process than it receives.
Human hand
However, overgrazing could be another reason for the death of animals. With the arrival of humans, there are fewer and fewer pastures for grazing in the tundra, and as a result, there is simply not enough food for everyone. In this case, some nomads believe, the natural case will solve this problem. However, Andrei Podluzhnov noted that it is unlikely that “overpopulation” played a decisive role.
The number of pastures is decreasing due to anthropogenic circumstances. Due to climate warming, wet places are turning into swamps, and dry places are increasingly being taken over by people - including for the construction of gas production enterprises, for example. But for the problem to become global in nature and for there to be a shortage of space, this has never happened before,” he explained.
Most likely, reindeer herders, who, according to Podluzhnov, “live by the needs of the reindeer,” would have changed their nomadic routes in advance if they knew that a problem with pastures might arise somewhere. True, it could also happen that behind the layer of snow the nomads did not notice that what was previously considered a pasture had already turned into a swamp - and it was difficult for deer to find food there. At the same time, according to the veterinarian, until the scientists return, it is impossible to talk about the exact reasons for the death of the animals. There can be many of them - from a mistake by reindeer herders to unpleasant natural surprises, or, indeed, another outbreak of anthrax.
“Either rebuild or die”
If the issue is truly a lack of feed, it will most likely be easier to deal with. Veterinarians have already brought mineral salt and special fertilizers to the tundra. Reindeer herders were recommended to make additional food supplies at the beginning of winter. But most likely only large farms took care of this.
It was recommended to reindeer herders, but Yamal is an endless tundra. This is not a steppe with waist-deep grass. They do not have the opportunity to cut several tons of hay and then drive the animals there. We, of course, can recommend it to them, but the reindeer herder technically cannot roam and carry tens of tons of hay and grain with him,” Andrei Podluzhnov recalled.
Those reindeer herders who did not have enough hay or who chose not to lead their herds to the bases where food reserves remained, but to lead them in a nomadic circle in full accordance with the traditions of their ancestors, some of the livestock may be missing.
This is evolution. And they will either have to rebuild and change their attitude towards reindeer husbandry, or they will have to die. The climate is cruel, and it dictates its terms; we will have to pay our tribute to it, the expert believes.
When summer comes into its own, in his opinion, the death of deer will stop. Now most of the animals are in the southern part of Yamal, but they have a long journey ahead to the north, away from the summer midges. And those animals that meet him in a weakened state may not even reach the northern pastures.
Recently it became known about new version the death of about 600 deer in the Tazovsky district last month. One might say it was criminal: unknown people (probably unintentionally) polluted the river with petroleum products and hid this fact. It is possible that the animals died after drinking toxic water in the heat. In any case, law enforcement officers opened a criminal case, albeit under pressure.
Then, in the third decade of July, the news of another mass death of deer caused a real commotion in the autonomy. The first thing that came to the minds of both ordinary northerners and specialists was: has anthrax spread to the Gydan Peninsula? However, tests refuted the suspicion. There followed an officially published assumption about necrobacteriosis (hoof) - an insidious infectious disease, but it was not confirmed either. In search of the cause of the pestilence, the veterinary service came to the conclusion: the deer died from another deadly infection - pasteurellosis. Antibiotics and other medicines were brought to the Evaisalinskaya tundra, where the emergency occurred, for prevention, and a quarantine was introduced for a month. Owners of deer were prohibited from moving them or using their meat for food. The danger has passed - not a single deer suffered from pasteurellosis in August. Although for nomads the loss of 600 heads is an economic blow to the gut.
If we assume that the deer were killed, relatively speaking, by fuel oil, then, consequently, the veterinary department made a mistake, which in itself is strange. At the same time, the threat of poisoning, judging by the results of analyzes by Rospotrebnadzor of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, was real. After all, a 40-fold excess of the maximum permissible concentration for petroleum products has been recorded! This is in samples of rainbow water taken for research in the Yara-Micho river. Where is the source of the threat? According to some witnesses, a helicopter flew over Yara Micho and, unfortunately, two containers allegedly fell out of its belly.
In samples of rainbow water taken for research in the Yara-Micho river, an excess of the maximum permissible concentration of petroleum products was recorded by 40 times
The tundra dwellers, understandably, were indignant; one of them contacted the local police. She took the information into account, but did not see anything unusual in the fact of contamination. What became known to the district prosecutor's office. She sent a request to the head of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Tazovsky district: on what basis are you inactive? After which a criminal case was immediately initiated.
According to experts, if an aircraft actually lost barrels of oil-containing or other chemically hazardous liquid, and the day and hour of flight is known, then it will not be difficult for detectives to identify the airline, the customer, or the shipper. The culprit will be held liable for causing environmental damage to the tundra. And if pollution, hypothetically, caused a mass death of deer, then we'll talk about tens of millions of rubles in compensation to animal owners.
We emphasize: this is just a version, one of many. The author was unable to find descriptions of cases of simultaneous death of such a number of domestic reindeer from pasteurellosis, as well as from poisoning with petroleum products or chemical reagents in places of exploration and production of hydrocarbons. True, in the last decade in the same Tazovsky region, 68 animals grazing near an unfenced borehole were poisoned by a toxic substance. Several years ago, in the Nenets Okrug, neighboring the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, 105 deer died in similar circumstances.
We can only hope that, while investigating the latest emergency, which is quite mysterious, the police, prosecutors, environmentalists and veterinarians will dot the i’s.
Quarantine was introduced in one of the districts of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) due to anthrax, which caused the death of more than a thousand deer, the press service of the head of the district reported on Monday. The last case of an anthrax outbreak in Yamal was registered 75 years ago - in 1941.
“Analysis of samples taken by specialists working group in dead animals, showed the reason for the death of deer. The veterinary service of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug confirmed that part of the death of deer is caused by anthrax spores. The governor of the district, Dmitry Kobylkin, by his order introduced a quarantine regime in the Yamal region on July 25,” they said.
According to authorities, on this moment 1.2 thousand animals died. “An autopsy was performed on the animals, samples were taken biological material for analysis, tundra areas were examined, and the necessary recommendations were given to reindeer herders. Based on the results of comprehensive studies, experts confirmed that the death of the deer was caused not only by heatstroke due to abnormal heat, but also by anthrax disease,” they clarified.
Experts emphasize that there is no threat to people. “All tundra dwellers have been thoroughly examined: everyone is healthy. Next to the reindeer herders, who are 63 people, there is a general practitioner who monitors their health. As a preventive measure, all nomads from this camp will be transported to another tundra territory for preventive vaccination. The helicopter has already been sent to the parking lot,” the press service said.
Additional vaccination of all nomads of the Yamal region is being considered. Reindeer herders living in the tundra are being notified of the situation.
Possible reasons
The first reports that reindeer cannot withstand abnormally high temperatures began to arrive last week from the Yamal tundra.
“By the weekend, the most difficult situation was observed among private reindeer herders near the Tarko-Sale trading post in the Yamal region and in the reindeer herding brigade operating nearby. Now total losses amounted to 1,200 heads,” the press service clarified.
According to veterinarians, probable cause infection of deer - the site of a long-standing death of an animal infected with anthrax, opened due to the heat. “There are no cattle burial grounds in this area, but given the viability of the anthrax pathogen - 100 years or more, professionals suggest that deer, in search of food, stumbled upon the site of an animal that died from anthrax and then infected each other. Therefore, the local place for this grazing - the deer path - will be fenced with special poles,” added the press service of the Yamal governor.
Currently, measures are being taken to dispose of dead animals. “Healthy deer in the affected herd will receive additional vaccinations; The serum has been ordered and will soon be delivered from Moscow to Yamal. Funds for clearing the site of death of animals will be allocated from the reserve fund of the budget of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug,” they said.
“After determining the damage suffered by the reindeer herders, the issue of compensation for losses will be considered. The situation is under constant control of the governor,” the press service summarized.
Anthrax in Yamal
The last case of an anthrax outbreak in Yamal was registered in 1941. According to authorities, about 150,000 deer are vaccinated in the county each year. “At the same time, just in case, almost all large and small cattle and horses, the soil cover is periodically examined. Last year alone, more than 10 thousand soil samples were taken, all with negative results,” the press service explained.
In 2015, the volume of vaccinations and other preventative work exceeded 480 thousand heads of animals. The reindeer herd in Yamal numbers 700 thousand heads.
According to the meteorological service, during the month in Yamal, the territory of which belongs to the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, abnormal heat was recorded. The air temperature reached 35 degrees above zero. A slight cooling was recorded on Monday; during the day the thermometer will not rise above 22 degrees.
Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Dmitry Kobylkin By his order, today, July 25, he introduced a quarantine regime in the Yamal region.
Analysis of samples taken by the working group’s specialists from animals last week showed the reason for the death of the deer. The department of agro-industrial complex of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the veterinary service of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug today confirmed that part of the death of deer in the Yamal region is caused by anthrax spores.
Let us remind you that last week we began to receive reports from the Yamal tundra that reindeer could not cope with the abnormally high temperature. By the weekend, the most difficult situation was observed among private reindeer herders near the Tarko-Sale trading post in the Yamal region and in the reindeer herding brigade operating nearby. To date, total losses have amounted to 1,200 heads.
Working groups from the departments of the agro-industrial complex, indigenous minorities and the district veterinary service, municipal administrations, sent to the localities to find out the reasons for the current situation, carried out the necessary set of measures in such cases. In particular, autopsies of animals were performed, samples of biological material were taken for analysis, tundra areas were examined, and the necessary recommendations were given to reindeer herders.
Based on the results of complex analyses, experts confirmed that the death of deer was caused not only by heat stroke (northern animals are not adapted to such high temperatures); but also a disease - anthrax.
Experts emphasize - there is no threat to people, all tundra inhabitants have been thoroughly examined: everyone is healthy. Since Friday - July 22 - there are 63 reindeer herders, there is a general practitioner who monitors their health. As a preventive measure, all nomads from this camp will be transported to another tundra territory for preventive vaccination. The helicopter has already been sent to the parking lot. Also among the effective preventive measures additional vaccination of all nomads of the Yamal region is being considered. Reindeer herders in the area are notified of the situation.
The probable cause of the infection of the deer, according to experts, is the site of the long-ago death of a sick animal, which was opened due to the heat. There are no cattle burial grounds in this area, but given the viability of the anthrax pathogen - 100 years or more and its resistance to temperature changes, professionals suggest that deer, in search of food, stumbled upon the site of an animal that died from anthrax and then infected each other. Therefore, the local area of this grazing - the deer path - will be fenced with special poles. Traditionally local residents avoid these areas even after many years.
Arrangements are currently being made to dispose of the dead animals as required by regulations. Healthy deer in the affected herd will receive additional vaccinations; The serum has been ordered and will soon (most likely today) be delivered from Moscow to Yamal. Funds for clearing the site of death of animals will be allocated from the reserve fund of the budget of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
Additional recommendations from the chief veterinarian and Rospotrebnadzor on strengthening control for mandatory implementation will be sent to all reindeer herding brigades and all agricultural facilities. The district governor has set the task of taking maximum precautions for the health of specialists and nomads when carrying out events under quarantine conditions.
Today, July 25, the issue of providing people with everything necessary for life has already been resolved. After determining the damage suffered by the reindeer herders, the issue of compensation for losses will be considered.
Specialists from the veterinary service, the department of agro-industrial complex, indigenous minorities, and healthcare continue to work in the region.
The situation is under constant monitoring.
Help. The last case of an anthrax outbreak in Yamal was registered in 1941.
The causative agent of the ulcer can manifest itself at any time. Therefore, large-scale preventive measures, the main ones of which are deer vaccination, sanitary examination and soil monitoring studies, are relevant non-stop. Every year about 150 thousand deer are vaccinated in the district, and along the way, just in case, almost all large and small livestock and horses; The soil cover is periodically examined (10,140 soil samples were taken last year alone, all with negative results). Over the past 10 years, the veterinary service of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug has carried out bacteriological monitoring of 32 out of 47 “case sites” for anthrax, and examined more than 200 thousand soil samples , the presence of a pathogen was not established in any sample.
Every year, more than 950 facilities involved in the production of livestock products on the territory of the Autonomous Okrug are subjected to veterinary and sanitary treatments (disinfection, disinfestation, deratization), more than 58 thousand laboratory diagnostic tests are carried out for zooanthroponoses, quarantine and especially dangerous diseases animals.
In 2015, the volume of vaccinations and other preventive work exceeded 480 thousand heads of reindeer and more than 10 thousand soil samples.
