Elk (Alces alces; Ukrainian: los’). The largest even-hoofed mammal of the deer family. In Ukraine, the elk was common until the 16th century in the forest and forest-steppe belts. Then it was almost wiped out by humans because of its tasty meat and valuable hide. Today some elk survive in the forest belt, particularly in northwestern Ukrainian Polisia. 

The elk was listed in a Red Book of Ukraine* in December 2017 as a vulnerable species requiring protection in order to preserve and reproduce the population.

*Red Book of Ukraine - official document containing information about the current condition of the animal species, species of plants and mushrooms of Ukraine that are in danger of passing away or need the protection.

One of the main reasons for introducing this species into the Red Book of Ukraine is reliable information on the reduction of the number of species, or the reduction of the area of their habitats, which may endanger the future existence of the species. In any case, this is a matter of scientific research, not ethics, economics or politics.

However, on November 27, 2018, the District Court of Kyiv abolished the decision to introduce the Elk to the Red Book, thus legitimizing the hunt for it.

The number of species in 1991 was about 16 thousand, according to official estimates, now range from 2 to 4,5 thousand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXBZMZrGVX0

Recently, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has appealed to the court to cancel the previous decision, and I do not hope that after the decision, elk will be returned to the Red Book.

Some scientists argue that the elk can completely disappear from the territory of Ukraine until 2050 if it is not included it in the Red Book back.