Russia's wild reindeer population collapses by 219% in two decades

Researchers from the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have revealed that the population of wild reindeer has plummeted by 219% over the past 20 years, now standing at just 22,000 animals, Moskovsky Komsomolets reports. The Evenki breed has also seen a dramatic decline, shrinking by 166%—a loss of 87,000 head.

Scientists cite poor environmental conditions, dwindling food sources, and the lack of systematic breeding programs as the key drivers of the crisis. Meanwhile, state subsidies often end up covering short-term expenses rather than long-term genetic improvement efforts. To address the issue, experts propose introducing genetic passports for reindeer and developing clearer, more structured farm management programs.