Welcome To Siberia
Before we get into the nitty and gritty details of the story, let’s take a second to talk about Siberia. An enormous region of Russia, Siberia encompasses most of Northern Asia. Although it has more than three-quarters of the nation’s landmass, it’s only home to a quarter of the population, which is around 36 million people. This means that there are only eight people per square mile. In other words, Siberia is a largely empty territory even though it accounts for 78 percent of Russia’s land area.
Harsh Winters
Worldwide, Siberia is known for its harsh winters. Although the climate differs throughout the region, there’s no doubt that Siberian winters are extremely tough, with a January average of minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the region is covered in boreal forests, known in Russia as taiga, becoming just a huge area of coniferous trees. In the north, the forest gives way to the icy tundra whereas in the south — the region that most people live in — the weather is great for agriculture. Even in the warmer south, though, the cold grips for months.
Hub For Tourism
And while it may be difficult to withstand the harsh winters of Siberia, there is no denying that its scenery is absolutely breathtaking. For tourists who love adventuring, it’s a literal hub for outdoor activities. With plenty of space for hiking and snow sports, Siberia is one of the most unspoiled landscapes in the world. It’s an ideal location for travelers who want to encounter the untouched beauty of nature, mighty mountains, and unexplored enigmas.
Lake Baikal
One popular, must-see sight in Siberia would have to be Lake Baikal. An ancient, massive lake in the mountainous Russian region of Siberia, Lake Baikal is considered to be the deepest lake in the world. The body of water is encompassed by a plethora of hiking paths known as the Great Baikal Trail. The lake is home to more than 2500 species of plants and animals, two-thirds of which are unique to the region. Thanks to the inhabitable winters that Siberia experiences, Lake Baikal is frozen from January all the way through May.
Welcome To Buryatiya
Another region that has plenty to do for visitors is known as Buryatiya, which also happens to be where this whole hunting incident occurred. The land around this area is mountainous, with a number of rivers crisscrossing the terrain, including Lake Baikal. As you might have guessed, much of the area is covered with taiga and greenery. And while its winters are typically difficult, the area’s indigenous people (Buryats) have adapted quite well over the years and even partake in agriculture today.
No Tourists Until 1991
Nowadays, most Buryats actually live in Ulan-Ude, Buryatiya’s capital. It is ranked the third biggest city in Siberia and is home to more than 400,000 people, according to the latest census. Surprisingly enough, however, the city actually remained closed to tourists up until 1991, when the former Soviet Union collapsed, and it’s fair to say potential visitors were missing out. Not too far from Ulan-Ude is the River Barguzin, which flows for 300 miles, partly through a valley between soaring mountains before it ditches and flows through Lake Baikal.
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species and inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. Despite the threat of predators and harsh winters, the red deer have adapted well to the Siberian climates. Their fur coat thickens during the fall season. With that being said, however, it definitely isn’t a walk in the park to survive these treacherous conditions.
Fell Through The Ice
In November of 2018, a hunting trip turned heroic rescue was partially recorded and uploaded to YouTube. While the red deer species can survive the conditions of Siberia, it can still be extremely dangerous. Case in point, one red deer runs out in the midst of winter onto the iced-over Barguzin River. In an attempt to look for something to eat, this deer ultimately breaks through the frozen ice and falls into the precarious waters. Unfortunately, its thick coat doesn’t seem to provide enough warmth to the suffering animal.
Nearby Hunters
After the deer falls through the ice into the freezing waters, it lets out desperate cries that very well may have attracted the wrong kind of attention — nearby hunters. The YouTube video starts with a group of men working together around the snow and ice. Initially, it’s difficult to see what the men are huddled around but it’s assumed that it’s an animal. As the video continues, it becomes evident that this group of men are there for the stricken deer.
The Progress Was Slow
As one man uses a chainsaw to cut through the frozen ice, snow drifts through the air. Meanwhile, another guy uses a torch to soften the slices his colleague made. All the while, others are pulling on a rope that is attached to the deer’s antlers. As the video progresses, it becomes clear that the group of men is attempting to cut a channel in the ice in order to get the deer. Frustratingly, progress is extremely slow.
Motions Were Feeble
As the deer floats through the cleared water in the direction that the men are pulling from, it keeps moving its head from side-to-side yet its motions are feeble. Its body is covered in ice and snow, and it is clear that the scorned animal is truly feeling the effects of the cold. Still, the deer gradually approaches the point where the men had been cutting the channel. And we can only imagine the amount of energy the men used in order to catch the deer.
Matter Of Time
The video continues to film the deer bobbing through the freezing lake until finally, the men are able to reach it and get it to land. At this point, the deer is lying on the snow limp, barely moving. The hair on its face and body had frozen, and it seems as though the animal is almost lifeless. But it wouldn’t be very long at all until the hunters would be able to have a grand feast. It was just a matter of time…
Not Responding
Oddly enough, though, none of the men decided to put the deer out of its misery once and for all. On the contrary, actually, one of the hunters removes his glove and starts rubbing the animal’s body. It isn’t long before that same guy has both his hands working to create friction and warm the weak animal up. Another man soon joins in after. Sadly, it is clear from a close-up of shot of the deer’s face that it doesn’t seem to be responding.
Nearby Fire
Even so, the men are determined and haven’t given up. In fact, they even placed the lifeless animal in front of a small fire they built nearby. While the fire progressively gets stronger and it could look like the deer could be their potential dinner, it is clear that the men aren’t planning to cook it. Rather, they are attempting to revive the diminished animal. As the flames continue to blaze, one of the hunters continues to rub the deer’s foreleg.
Get It Out Of The Cold
A few minutes have passed by. The branches crackle as the fire continues to burn yet the deer doesn’t seem to be making any improvement. Instead, it just lays there, limp and perished. Meanwhile, the men can be heard speaking in the video. One of them points out that they “need to get it out of the cold.” It seems as though this fire just isn’t going to cut it at this point. The hunters had to think of a different option if they wanted to save this animal’s life.
Maybe There’s Still Hope
The video suddenly cuts to an SUV plowing through the snow. As the truck powers through the snowy terrain, it becomes clear as to what the men are trying to do. They have attached a sled to the back of the vehicle in order to drag the frozen animal to a warmer and safer place. With the deer still making very little movement, it wasn’t very challenging for the men to secure it in place on the sled with tarpaulin and sturdy ropes. Maybe there’s still hope for this red deer…
Sheltered Location
After the men drive the deer to a sheltered location, they lay it on the floor to give it a chance to warm up a bit. Although it has been taken out of the cold, it still has very little energy. At this point, the men seem concerned as they all make a group effort to rub the animal, increasing its circulation. Still though, the deer showed very little intention or inclination of getting up. What’s left to do at this point?
Lump Of Lard
The men need to come up with something else, a different plan of sorts. They know that they need to warm the deer up but this time, it’s time to try to “warm it from the inside.” One of the men mutters that, as he starts to feed the ‘beast’ a lump of lard. Suddenly, things begin to change. For the first time, the deer is responding and well, we might add! It seems happy to munch on this treat.
The Mood Lightens
After a few minutes, it’s clear that the idea worked. Finally, the deer is able to sit up with its legs tucked under. Moreover, it can even hold its head up, which is completely cleared from the ice and snow. The deer is evidently much stronger at this point. The men immediately notice this change, and their moods begin to lighten as well. They are gathered in this outhouse laughing and joking around, as the deer continues to recover from its fateful accident.
The Question Still Remains
Later on in the video, there’s a group of people waiting outside the shelter. Suddenly, we can see the deer burst out as it runs into the wild. Everyone watching begins to applaud as the red deer continues to gallop away, across the snow-covered land and into a nearby forest. Still, we ask ourselves why these men even took pity on the deer in the first place. After all, weren’t they just out there to hunt?
It All Makes Sense Now
Well, it turns out that the rescue was led by Aleksej, who received a call telling him that the deer had fallen into the river and was stuck. Without hesitation, Aleksej rushed to get a group of people together in order to save this poor animal. Rather than a bunch of hunters looking for their prey, this group of men actually consists of government workers, volunteers, veterinarians, and now they have earned the title of heroes. Thanks to these guys, this red deer will continue to live a long and happy life.
Gone Viral
While the footage only lasts a few minutes, it was revealed the team had actually worked tirelessly for hours in order to save this deer’s life. It was only when they had gotten the deer back to a nearby town that they were able to fully help the fallen animal. It wasn’t long before this video went viral. Everyone and their mothers started sharing the touching moment online. Who doesn’t love a heartwarming story like this? We certainly do!
Selfless Act
It’s honestly so heartwarming and inspiring to see these kinds of selfless acts. We’re sure this group of men didn’t wake up thinking that they’d be saving a deer’s life in the middle of the snowy Siberian terrains and yet they did! They spent four long hours bringing this red deer back to life. And after hearing a story like this, you’re probably asking yourself — “what have I even done today?” You definitely didn’t save a deer’s life, but neither did we. Let’s use this as inspiration…
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