Hunted: Law of the jungle
From hunting in Siberia to poaching in the jungles of Myanmar, we explore the relationship between humans and wildlife.
Wolf Hunter
![Siberian hunter Ion Maxsimovic has full support of the state to curb the exploding wolf population [Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/7c4dc682a5cb4bca8e7aead3ed29a63d_19.jpeg "Siberian hunter Ion Maxsimovic has full support of the state to curb the exploding wolf population [Al Jazeera]")
In Siberia, wolves are killing reindeer by the thousands, pushing the government to create a bounty system to curtail the wolf population.
In 2017, roaming wolf packs were responsible for the killing of livestock, including 9,000 reindeer, costing the state $2.5m and pushing indigenous communities into poverty.
State-recognised Hunter Maxsimovic used to hunt sable, but since 2013 he has switched to full-time wolf hunting – not just for the money but also to protect a way of life.
“I get a bounty for my work as a wolf hunter,” says Maxsimovic, who also gets subsidised fuel and ammunition from the state. “The main problem is wolves, [because] they started to kill reindeer. Three or four years from now, our children won’t see those animals.”
Tiger Bones and Bear Bile
![Barking deer, wild pig, buffalo and bears have all fallen victim to the hunting habits of villagers near the Natma Taung National Park. The park is too large for a single ranger to control [Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/21274cf1b8294627a330ea530c2e2eec_19.jpeg "Barking deer, wild pig, buffalo and bears have all fallen victim to the hunting habits of villagers near the Natma Taung National Park. The park is too large for a single ranger to control [Al Jazeera]")
There are only around 3,000 wild tigers left on the planet.
In the jungles of Myanmar, killing one of them can earn you a small fortune.
While Myanmar officially banned the trafficking of endangered animals over two decades ago, demand for tiger and bear parts – for medicine, cuisine and sexual stimulants – means that the trade continues to exist.
“The gall bladders of bears are valuable because Chinese people want to buy them,” says a village elder who has turned to hunting due to the need for money. “They also want tiger skin and teeth. People hunt for them to try and make some money.”