This species has a moderately small population which appears to be declining over a short time period. Wetlands International increased its global population estimate from c. 44,000 to c. 56,000 individuals (BirdLife International 2019). Deliberate hunting of birds occurs in Russia and Kazakhstan (Rozenfeld 2011), and results from a recent tagging study suggest mortality owing to hunting could be very high (up to 40%). Some key feeding sites have been lost in Bulgaria. Hunting pressure is also substantial in Bulgaria and Romania, including illegal shooting at Red-breasted Goose. Climate change and associated habitat shifts are expected to impact negatively on this species and others dependent on tundra habitat for breeding (Zöckler & Lysenko 2000).

Read more about Red-breasted Goose here.