MOSCOW, January 6 (RIA Novosti) – Authorities in Russia’s northeastern republic of Yakutia have declared a state of emergency over increased attacks of wolves on livestock.

Special brigades of hunters are currently being formed to fight against the growing population of gray wolves, which killed more than 16,000 domestic reindeer and 300 horses in Yakutia last year.

The annual damage the wolves inflict on Yakutia’s livestock is approximately 147 million rubles ($5 mln), local authorities said.

The size of the wolf population in Yakutia, currently about 4,000, exceeds the target level at least threefold. Authorities plan to cut this number to just 500.