RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic - roughly twice the size of Belgium - has a population of around 22,000 reindeer.
Norway reported 13 unusual reindeer deaths in Svalbard during summer, including 11 females and two males, which is rare for this season. The cause of death is unknown, and experts find it unlikely to be disease since the victims were healthy adults. Authorities urge the public to report new carcasses to monitor this unexpected event closely in the Arctic region. AI generated
OSLO - Norwegian authorities on Aug 6 reported more than a dozen unexplained reindeer deaths in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic, considered “highly unusual” for the summer season.
During an annual count, 13 recently deceased reindeer – 11 females and two males – have so far been found in two Svalbard valleys located a little over a 1,000km from the North Pole, the local governor’s office announced.
“It is very unusual for females of breeding age and adult males to die during the summer. That’s why we want to monitor this development closely,” it said.
The causes of death are not yet known, and authorities have called on the public to report any new carcass finds.
The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) told AFP it had “no clear indication nor any specific hypothesis” to explain the unusual summer deaths.
“In winter, it is mainly the youngest and oldest individuals that die,” said researcher Vebjorn Veiberg.
“The animals found dead this summer are, on the contrary, in the most vigorous and productive period of their lives,” he added.
“Veterinary specialists are naturally looking for an explanation related to disease. However, it seems unlikely that a disease would primarily affect the most robust animals.”
Svalbard, roughly twice the size of Belgium, has a population of around 22,000 reindeer – about seven times more than the number of people.
They are significantly smaller in size than the mainland reindeer. AFP
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