No data on populationsizes are available at present, although it is knownthat threats, particularly exploitation is having a largeimpact upon this species, coupled with hybridisationand habitat degradation. Generation length has beenestimated as four years, based on data from Nowak(1991). As exploitation is known to be causing apopulation decline, when data becomes available thisspecies may be re-categorised as threatened under Criterion A. There is a small chance ofimmigration from adjacent populations of S. s. sibirica, although levels of hunting pressureon these populations are not known, therefore the assessment remains unchanged followingapplication of regional criteria.