Published: 3 July, 2007, 13:34
Edited: 3 July, 2007, 13:34
In Russia's far east, a local businessman has turned an island into a preserve for marine life. Volunteers are working to protect animals from poachers in the area, and lead excursions for residents.
The island of Toki in Russia's far east Khabarovsk region has become a summer resort for local marine mammals.
For decades, sea life living there faced a dreary fate – poachers arranged hunting safaris and anyone who wanted to join them could. But businessman Vladimir Moskalyov decided that both the animals and the environment had to be protected.
“I was born and grew up here. I want this place to be preserved to be the way it was 20 or 30 years ago,” Vladimir Moskalyov explained.
Thousands of walruses, seals and sea lions have come to the preserve on the most southern island in the Strait of Tartary. Volunteers are on duty daily, working to protect the waters in which the creatures have come to prosper.
But poachers continue to hunt along the coast. The animals of nearby, badly-guarded islands suffer the most. Local inspectors don't have enough boats and fuel to do their protection work.
As a result, “locals frequently shoot animals, and steal the little ones. Their fat is worth a lot. In addition, the meat of the animals is fed to dogs. Other than that, there is nothing that can be taken from them,” says Vladimir's son, Ivan Moskalyov.
Still, Toki Island has grown into a popular resort for marine mammals.
And the coming cold presents a new danger – killer whales. Every autumn dozens of animals perish when the whales come for feeding. But the volunteers at the preserve strictly do not interfere with nature. And every year, come the warm weather, it seems as though more and more seals and sea lions are finding their way back to safety.