The Red Book and Hunting: Drawing the Legal Boundaries

The Red Book compiles data on the current status of rare and endangered plant and animal species. For a long time, it has been the primary tool for nature conservation. The first edition of the USSR Red Book was published in 1978; before that, species protection was mainly governed by local regulations, primarily hunting law that restricted the capture of certain animals. After the collapse of the USSR and the transition to a new legal system, the Red Book’s role became more declarative than legally binding for a time. It was only in 1995, with the adoption of the Federal Law “On the Animal World,” that it regained legal status. The first edition of the Russian Federation’s Red Book was published in 1997. Around the same time, with support from international conservation organizations, Russia began compiling regional Red Books. Alongside conservation law, hunting legislation and the hunting industry also evolved. Gradual relaxation of requirements, advances in technology, and rising living standards made hunting more accessible and popular. As the number of hunters grew, so did the share seeking distinction, aiming for rarer trophies than others. Are rare animals merely a resource or a national treasure? In which countries have attempts been made to conserve rare animals by permitting hunting? What methods for removing problem predators are most effective for both public safety and species conservation? Is a compromise between protecting rare species and hunting them even possible?