Zarechny, 13 January 2014. PenzaNews. Two elks living in Zarechny of the Penza region were taken out of the closed city on Monday, January 13.

Representatives of the city department of natural resources, the Penza zoo, the fire-rescue center and research and production enterprise “Khimmash-Start” took part in the relocation of the wild animals.

“First, the elks were put to sleep with a special preparation so that they do not hurt themselves on the way. Then, they were put in the car and taken to the forest several dozens of kilometers away from Penza.

“This operation was aimed at ensuring safety of residents of the city of Zarechny,” the head of the department of protection and use of fauna and permitting activities of the Ministry of Forestry of the Penza region Denis Kiselmanov noted.

This was the second large-scale operation of elks’ relocation. The first one was organized in the winter of 2010.

As news agency PenzaNews reported earlier with a reference to the results of the monitoring of the department of natural resources of Zarechny, at present over 10 species of elks live in the territory of the closed administrative-territorial unit, which exceeds normative standard and is dangerous for health and property of people.

According to the study, elks occupy their natural habitat in the territory of Zarechny – the formed population is reproductively full.

On the whole, up to six elks were relocated out of Zarechny.