Nobody can say for sure how many walruses are left in the world. Last expert estimates are referred to 1990 and are far from being precise. Atlantic sea horses ceased to exist. It is believed that their relatives inhabiting the Pacific Ocean account for 200 000 units now. In spite of the fact hunting for walruses was prohibited in the USSR in 1956, the Chukchi of Chukotka continue killing the animals. Pictures of the bloody hunting are presented below.
Location: Chukotka
via drugoi
It was my understanding that they only kill what they need. And they know the importance of maintaining the species better than anyone.
The idea that native people were ecologically sound stewards of the land is a myth. There have been countless species hunted to extinction. You shouldn’t trust them to protect the walrus. They may cry a tear as they pick thier teeth with the bones of the last one.
I don’t see any hunters or rich guys killing for sport or for money. Better dead seals than starving people.
Wrong. Human beings are the cause of all problems on this planet, including extinction of animal species and starvation of their own species. Humans are a plague that need to be wiped out.
Ok, then. Start with yourself
Sir, you are 100% correct.
You will notice that ALL the walrus are being butchered and saved. None are being killed for ‘sport’. This is different than the Americans and the deer, or beaver, or bison, or wolverine, or bear, or a long list of other endangered species.
Interesting how you make statements without any logic or documented support.
Not one of the creatures you mentioned is currently endangered on the North American continent. Just sayin’.
A big thumbs up on this one Testi, nobody has said it better!
Fair point. But not in the case of these people.
I would say that going hunting with an automatic weapon was just a little bit cheating…
He is using a saiga Rifle., a Semiautomatic variant of the AK47. it uses a stamped receiver, custom hand guard, a non threaded barrel with non-standard sight-base. It is available in 7.62×39, .223 NAT, .308 WIN, with barrel lengths in 16 and 21 inches for all 3 calibers. It is also available as a shotgun in gauges .410, 20 and 12.
No one asked for a lesson in firearms. Guess the point went far over your head.
They are much less likely to lose the walrus with modern weapons. They will kill fewer and eat what they kill.
Humans have always employed technology to kill. 50,000 years ago to today.
When the people of the future look back at those of the past, this they will see! Their opinions will be low.
Not if we write history books that say the Walruses attacked us first and ate babies.
This is no different than aboriginals in Canada hunting for seals…
While I respect the natives’ rights and their customs and traditions before the new settlers came be it in Russia or Canada, I’m against the killing of all the mammals.
Aboriginals in Canada… ?
I can appreciate you opinion that you are against the killing of mammals, however the issue (in my opinion) is the fact that seals are a dime a dozen hope I’m not sounding too harsh. But walruses are in a fight for their species. The fact that the walrus is endangered is not the fault of the indigenous peoples of the north. I guess our ancestors wrote a check that nobody can cash. I wish these indigenous people of Russia can step-up and be the bigger man.
Human beings are a dime a dozen, if any species needs to be thinned out, its us. A life is a life, a humans is no different than any other species. In fact, we’re probably lower to the bottom of the ladder than most, maybe one above cockroaches.
I feel sorry for cute walruses, they all look like the guy from the myth busters
This saddens my heart
The Pacific population of walruses was nearly wiped out in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They are in robust good health.
Pacific walruses are by no means endangered.
In Canada and Alaska natives are allowed to hunt walrus and the species does not seem to be in any danger.
You want to preserve all the species close to extinction? STOP POLLUTING!!!!!!!!!!!! These natives only hunt what they need to survive, and never take any more than they have to. They also practice rituals where they respect and honor the deaths of those walrus. Yes it is wrong to kill living things, however, if you really cared…go protect millions of trees being cut down every year by home depot and lowe’s in Brazil, which are killing the EARTH~!!!!!
But I like shopping at Home Depot.
Oh man, you are so far off base its not close to funny. That whole “natives are animal stewards” nonsense is bullshit. They treat animals with no regard, no compassion, no humanity whatsoever.
Stop overpopulating. Native people all over the world do not overpopulate! Too many people consume too much. As any Native will tell you, life is about balance.
According to the Endangered Species Act, the Pacific Whale has a population listed as 200k-250k in most sources. The Chukchi people numbered 15k in 2002, likely to be much less now.
Compare the effects:
15,000 peasants hunting to use every kill for food, clothing, and fuel for their village
vs
many hundreds of millions of “civilized” westerners who collectively help increase the rate at which ice shelves, an important habitat for walruses, decrease by dozens of feet a day?
Puts that in perspective, huh?
In a nutshell. The human race is part of the problem. We’re a growing cancer. And we will destroy every natural ressources on this planet.
You’ve watch the matrix too many times
Feel free to take yourself out of the picture if you really believe this…oh, what’s that? It’s that other guy that’s the excess human, not you?
Spoken like a typical human being… no regard for anything or anyone but him/her self.
Drinkin the Koolaid again?
Last
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Poor people always kill walruses for their meat we should kill poor people
natives use automatic weapons all over north America to hunt whales, seals and walruses; these guys here harpooned them and then finished them off with the gun