Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the killing of 19 walruses in Russia's far eastern Chukotka, after some of the mammals were found beheaded last month, the district prosecutor general’s office said Wednesday in an online statement.
Park employees stumbled upon the marine mammals' corpses during a routine inspection at the Beringiya National Park in October, the park said last month on its website.
Nine of the animals had been beheaded and their penile bones removed, the park said.
An examination of the carcasses suggested the animals died as a result of gunshot wounds, the report said.
The prosecutors overrode an earlier decision by the Interior Ministry not to initiate criminal proceedings, the prosecutor's statement said.
The baculum, or penile bone, is used in crafts and amulets as a symbol of male power, the Gazeta.ru news website reported.
In walruses, they are exceptionally large and can reach around 60 centimeters in length.
An investigation into the mass killings is still ongoing, prosecutors said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
