Muskoxen stranded on tiny island

When the sea ice receded from the coast of Nunivak Island in Alaska, it left 11 muskoxen trapped on a small islet offshore, doomed to die of starvation or thirst.

Alaska state biologists told the Anchorage Daily News their budget is too slim to try to rescue the animals

Nunivak’s muskox population of 650 is big enough already.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has issued permits to native hunters in the nearby community of Mekoryuk to shoot the trapped bulls. The cows and calves may be killed later if it appears they won’t survive until freeze-up.