Insects, yaks, reindeer, and village cats as a subject of scientific research

On February 9, 2026, an international scientific seminar titled “Human-Animal-Landscape – Paradoxes of Relationships” was held at the Institute of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MAE RAS). Participants included MAE RAS employees M.V. Stanyukovich, V.N. Davydov, V.A. Belyaeva-Sachuk, A.V. Grigorieva, and T.B. Schepanskaya, along with our special guest Professor Francesca Luli (Italian Association for Ethnoarchaeology; The International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, Rome, Italy).

Francesca Luli delivered her traditional welcoming speech and expressed gratitude to MAE RAS for being a long-term partner in organizing studies and discussions on the theme of human-animal-landscape relationships since these interactions exist across all global cultures and traditions.

A total of five thematic presentations were presented during the seminar covering insects in the culture and beliefs of Filipino and Vietnamese peoples, reindeer husbandry among indigenous communities of Eastern and Southern Siberia, yak breeding practices, and relationship structures between residents of suburban settlements and stray cats. Seminar participants discussed future prospects for developing this topic further, including enhanced collaboration efforts.

Currently, a collection of scientific papers from previous seminars and conferences is being prepared under the general editorship of Francesca Luli, Director of the Italian Association for Ethnoarchaeology.