Yamal to create Tiutei-Yakhinsky Nature Sanctuary for unique walrus rookery
© RIA Novosti, Vera Kostamo

Yamal to create Tiutei-Yakhinsky Nature Sanctuary for unique walrus rookery

A new protected area covering 10,000 hectares will appear in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area in the estuary of the Tiutei-Yakha River, Yamal Governor Dmitry Artyukhov wrote on his Telegram channel.

The project to establish the Tiutei-Yakhinsky Nature Sanctuary was discussed during a public council meeting in Yamal’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

“With support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, we will create a new nature sanctuary in the river estuary. We all remember the important discovery made four years ago by our researchers – they found a large walrus rookery with more than a thousand animals. Since then, the walrus population has been growing, and the data collected give us reason to believe that this l population is a unique, Yamal one,” the Yamal governor wrote.

All economic activities will be restricted in the sanctuary, which will help to protect the animals from unwanted attention and conduct research at the same time.

“Our walruses are safe and secure,” Dmitry Artyukhov wrote.