Krasnoyarsk Krai: from forest banditry to bear shootings — who benefits?

I want to draw our comrades' attention to this fact: we are being told about the 'excessively growing population' of bears. Yet, back in 2021, it was claimed that the bear population was around 300,000 individuals, just four years after law enforcement agencies provided completely opposite information — there were about 143,000 bears, and they required federal protection. I have found no evidence that a large animal like the bear, with a slow life cycle, can double its population in such a short period, especially on the scale of a vast country with completely different climatic regimes. 

And do we need to remind ourselves that we have no truly objective count of wild animals? Most often, estimates are formed from the words of direct stakeholders — these are hunting users (hunting grounds). Additionally, the supposed population on paper is based on how often animals are seen. Essentially, this is the main psychological measure: if people see animals more often, then apparently, their numbers have increased significantly.

Meanwhile, the catastrophic deforestation in Russia, which drives animals towards human settlements, is being ignored. Abnormal forest fires are also overlooked, and I remind you that in recent years, millions of hectares have burned to the ground. Additionally, no one is talking about the sale of a third of all publicly accessible forest lands in the country to private hands for sports and recreational hunting—meaning people are putting pressure on wildlife by paying to shoot at 'live targets.' Furthermore, in hunting grounds, if they are not actively selling licenses to shoot predators, wolves, bears, and tigers are seen as direct competitors in hunting. I have repeatedly heard from the gamekeepers who currently work in these hunting areas that when land is leased for animal shooting, they usually go through the territories and deliberately clear them of large predators. This is done to 'ensure the safety of clients' who later want to shoot, say, wild boars or moose, and then there's a bear. Conflict. Who needs that? Naturally, no one, so the areas are cleared in advance.

How this works in practice and on what scale—I do not know. But the issue definitely requires investigation. However, I do know for sure that the pressure on wildlife is already colossal, and that is precisely why we see animals more frequently near populated areas. Not because their numbers have 'exploded and they no longer fit in the wild.'

Let's conduct a small mini-study of the problem together. 

Since we are the ones collecting data from the regions to create a register of bear extermination, we have the opportunity to rely on our own results moving forward.

So, we have regions with the most significant increase in bear hunting quotas. Let's take one of them as a basis for investigating the problem—let it be the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

We pose an objective question: is there an anomalous increase in forest fires, deforestation, and pressure on wildlife from the systemic apparatus in this region? I understand that any data will be approximate and almost certainly understated by officials. I also understand that after the ban on many environmental organizations in the country, there is a lack of data, especially independent analysis. But there is earlier data, say, from the horizon of 2019/2020 and beyond, precisely when the mass sale of the Russian Taiga for sports and recreational hunting grounds was taking place.

I think for a mini-study with colleagues, we will have enough analysis of one large region where a sharp increase in the issuance of quotas for shooting bears has been recorded. It is logical that if pressure on ecosystems is recorded in the regions and the destruction of biogeocenoses is observed, animals will start approaching humans. If there are too many predators, it will cause scandals, and people will start asking uncomfortable questions! Therefore, the increase in quotas will definitely allow for the culling of animals before they reach humans.

Krasnoyarsk Krai. According to our registry, the bear harvest limit developed as follows:

• 2019/2020 — 1,567 individuals
• 2020/2021 — 1,942 individuals
• 2021/2022 — 3,145 individuals
• 2022/2023 — data not found (we did not find the specific decree, but bear culling was ongoing)
• 2023/2024 — 4,779 individuals
• 2024/2025 — 4,565 individuals
• 2025/2026 — 4,616 individuals
• 2026/2027 —  5,037 individuals

So what do we get?

Let's do a simple calculation: 1,567 + 1,942 + 3,145 + 4,779 + 4,565 + 4,616 + 5,037 = 25,651 bears.

Simplifying: over seven hunting seasons in the Krasnoyarsk region alone, permission was granted to shoot 25,651 bears. A total of eight hunting seasons were considered (data for one season is missing). How many were actually killed is unknown; we only know the number of quotas issued by officials. That is, how many they allowed to be killed. 

Now let's examine the pressure on the nature of the Krasnoyarsk region. What preceded the increase in mass bear hunting in the region?

In 2019, we recorded abnormal, catastrophic, and destructive forest fires in Siberia. A huge number of these fires were concentrated precisely in the Krasnoyarsk region. Our regular allies will surely remember how the then-governor Alexander Uss stated:

"If we have cold weather in winter and a blizzard arises, no one thinks of melting icebergs to make it warmer. I think something similar applies to forest fires in the control zone. It's not just about the government; it's about the fact that this is a common natural phenomenon, fighting which is pointless, and perhaps even harmful in some cases."

This caused a stir, especially since he said this in the summer of 2019, during the height of the strongest forest fires. Independent analysis at the time showed that the fires started precisely from logging sites and forest roads leading to these sites, which were littered with deadwood. It is precisely in these places that "hunting users" typically stop to rest, light a fire, have a drink, and move on. Then the embers spread the fire, and abnormal fires begin!

For those who remember, in 2019 the Krasnoyarsk region was catastrophically ablaze. Smoke covered cities and villages, affecting both people and wildlife. To which officials, personally represented by the governor, declared their inaction due to "economic impracticality."

Just recently, I published a new extensive piece on scientific data regarding forest destruction in Siberia and the Far East over the past 25 years. According to studies, since 2001 alone, and only in the studied regions of Siberia, nature has been sliced into parts by more than 100,000 kilometers of roads.

Do you understand what this means? The nature of Siberia has been riddled with fragments and isolated from each other. Following this, a study by Russian scientists in Priangarye proved that up to half of all fires start precisely from logging sites and within two kilometers of roads.

It's actually very simple: humans penetrate deep into the wilderness, and road construction allows them to venture further and further. And where there are people, there are fires from untended campfires and discarded cigarette butts. Logging sites become resting places for groups of hunters or lumberjacks, who also smoke and light fires, then leave, and fires start after them.

Be sure to study the detailed material here: https://pavel-pashkov.com/articles/en/destroyed-ancient-forests-siberia

So, in our mini-study, we are already compiling data on the devastating forest fires in the Krasnoyarsk region in 2019: it was from this time that there was a sharp increase in the issuance of quotas for bear hunting, as they had at least lost their habitat and food base due to the fires and went to people in search of food.

But what else happened here?

The next layer we add is forest crime and corruption. In the following year, 2020, the former Minister of Forestry of the Krasnoyarsk region, Dmitry Maslodurov, was arrested on charges of receiving multimillion-dollar bribes from the logging company Kraslestorg. 

Simultaneously, a scandal emerged around the 'Church of the Last Testament': you might remember how the media reported on the arrest on September 22, 2020, of the leaders of this organization in the Kuraginsky district of the Krasnoyarsk region: Sergey Torop, known as Vissarion, Vadim Redkin, and Vladimir Vedernikov. The investigation accused them of creating a religious association whose activities were associated with violence and causing grievous harm to the health of two or more people.

But what remained behind the scenes was something else: already on September 23, 2020, 'Kommersant' reported that as part of the investigation, the contacts of the Church with the authorities of the Krasnoyarsk region were being examined. It was said that they received tens of millions of rubles from illegal logging and the construction of premium-class houses from this wood, where, it was claimed, regional officials resided.

It later became known about the organization's connection with the very minister of forestry who was detained. They primarily logged cedars — the center of interspecies communication, invaluable forests that provide a food base for wild animals and form entire ecosystems. According to the investigation, a significant source of funding for the Church was the harvesting of timber, primarily cedar, and the construction of houses. 'Kommersant' wrote that at least two individual entrepreneurs controlled by people from this circle were involved in buying up timber, as well as dozens, if not hundreds, of private individuals who, according to the investigation, were engaged in logging without registration.

These individual entrepreneurs, as the publication wrote, periodically won tenders announced by the authorities. One of them built facilities for the 2019 Universiade in Krasnoyarsk — stages, log cabins, gazebos. It was also reported that one of the co-founders of the Church headed a company that built premium-class baths and country houses costing from 10 million rubles.

So what do we have here? The FORMER Minister of Forestry personally participated in the destruction of the Russian Taiga. Involved in this were dozens, if not hundreds, of regional officials. Their interests were served by obscure organizations, shady individual entrepreneurs, and so on. They cut down mother trees, which are the foundation of life in the local forests. Meanwhile, there were catastrophic forest fires.

And then again, destructive forest fires: on May 7–8, 2022, in the Krasnoyarsk region, fires affected 60 settlements, destroying or damaging 518 residential houses, 309 other structures, and 61 vehicles. According to various updates, between 7 and 8 people died; 19–20 people were injured. Earlier reports indicated 5 deaths, and then the number grew.

In fact, we can confirm with you that at a time when there is a sharp increase in quotas for shooting bears, there is a SYSTEMATIC destruction of the Russian Taiga in the region, forest banditry involving top regional figures, and catastrophic forest fires. The governor says there is no need to extinguish them and that 'it is even harmful,' apparently for the economy, while officials collectively plunder the long-suffering taiga.

Now, in our mini-study, let's draw another parallel—the development of the paid hunting industry for wild animals.

We pose the question: we know about the sharp increase in quotas for shooting bears, which goes hand in hand with catastrophic fires and forest banditry. At the same time, we know that officials are plundering the Russian Taiga (officially confirmed), with the former Minister of Forestry personally involved, and the then-governor claimed that extinguishing forest fires was 'harmful.' Was there also an increase in the scale of shooting wild animals at this time?

Our key date is December 31, 2019: by decree No. 362-ug of Governor Uss, the 'Scheme for the Placement, Use, and Protection of Hunting Grounds in the Krasnoyarsk Territory' was approved. This means that AFTER the scandal with the abnormal forest fires, he personally ordered the mass development of hunting management in the region.

Once again, the connection: abnormal forest fires, the scandal with his statement, followed by a decree to increase the culling of wild animals. And let's recall my earlier words about how early culling of animals BEFORE they approach humans helps avoid inconvenient questions from citizens later on.

The development of the hunting industry has become colossal: by 2025, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Krasnoyarsk Territory published data showing that 218.3 million hectares have already been allocated for hunting grounds. As of April 1, 2025, 80.5 million hectares are designated hunting grounds, and 137.9 million hectares are public hunting grounds. These are vast areas, and the designated ones, as understood, are handed over to private hands.

• Private hunting grounds 80.5 million
• Public hunting grounds 137.9 million

The authorities called hunting a 'traditional form of nature use' that 'contributes to the development of entrepreneurship.' This means a clear and firm course was set that this is for profit.

I found data showing that there were 130.2 thousand registered hunters in the region by 2025. Additionally, 3.5–4 thousand NEW hunters join annually (receiving hunting licenses). Also, annually, about 60 thousand hunters receive permission to shoot animals in public forest areas. The rest apparently go to shoot live targets in private grounds.

The data is provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the region itself. Interestingly, in the same material, the authorities acknowledge that many hunting users have a low level of organization and management of hunting operations. The reasons cited include low profitability, some users turning to other sources of income, and 'incompetent management' unable to organize a hunting business even in an economically favorable region.

In other words, officials handed over vast territories of the Russian Taiga in the Krasnoyarsk Territory for the slaughter of animals, knowing that there is a completely ineffective 'leaky' management system. This is called chaos!

Even more importantly: according to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the actual protection of hunting grounds is carried out by 63 state hunting inspectors. Each inspector is responsible for up to 1.6 million hectares of controlled territory, and in the northern regions, up to 6.9 million hectares.

Now, let me summarize.

According to state monitoring of hunting resources, as of April 1, 2026, the population of brown bears in the hunting grounds of the Krasnoyarsk Territory was estimated at approximately 26,600 individuals. A year earlier, on April 1, 2025, the figure was about 25,300 individuals. Thus, the official population estimate increased by approximately 5%. 

But I remind you, we have no reliable bear population numbers at all. Moreover, this was recently stated by the leadership of the Rosrybolovokhota association itself, which demanded the legalization of bear hunting without limits and the permission to kill them in winter during hibernation: 

No one knows the exact numbers. There are no methods to count every single bear in the forest. Our population figures are subjective estimates, nothing more. Nevertheless, given the number of conflicts, it is clear that something needs to be done about the bears.

I discussed this in detail in a separate article: https://pavel-pashkov.com/articles/en/how-many-bears 

Therefore, trusting official statistics is pointless. 

What's next for the Krasnoyarsk Territory? It turns out that the number of bear hunting quotas increases annually, and starting in 2024, the region introduced a mechanism where a hunter who kills a wolf or bear in public hunting grounds receives an additional advantage in the allocation of permits for hunting hoofed animals. The system works like this: 40% of permits for hunting hoofed animals are distributed among hunters who have killed a wolf or bear or participated in activities for accounting, regulating numbers, and conserving resources, while 60% are distributed among other hunters.

Thus, the authorities are encouraging the killing of as many bears and wolves as possible. Meanwhile, they claim that the increase in quotas is due to population growth and "they don't fit in the taiga." Yet, they completely ignore the issues of ecosystem fragmentation, the destruction of ancient natural forests, and everything else. 

Are we not witnessing the large-scale destruction of the Krasnoyarsk Territory's forests, while the taiga is surrounded by hunting grounds as a buffer zone, and there is an intensive shooting of animals that, having lost their habitat and food base, are trying to approach humans in search of sustenance?

© PAVEL PASHKOV