Vladivostok, Mar 27 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Deep snow covered by ice crust has led to the deaths of many wild hoofed animals of various species in the far eastern woodlands in Russia, WWF Russia said.
"Dense snow which fell in January and was followed by a thaw in early February has created critical environmental conditions for the survival of wild hoofed animals. The snow is almost two meters thick in some places," the WWF's the Amur branch said.
According to Sergey Aramilev, WWF Russia Amur branch biodiversity conservation coordinator, both adult and young animals including boars, Manchurian wapitis and roe deers, have died because of unusually dense snow and poaching.
Vladimir Vasilyev, who heads the local hunting authority, said many poachers make use of the situation and kill animals, who are stuck in snowdrifts, though hunting is banned at this time of the year.