Loga sámegilli. – It must be said that we do not have the necessary equipment to deal with such situations. That’s what the mayor of Kautokeino municipality, Anders S. Buljo, says. Anders S. Buljo is mayor of Norway’s largest reindeer herding municipality. Photo: Malene Gaino Buljo / news Last Wednesday, the reindeer herd of the Áborášša reindeer herding district went through the ice on Stuorajávri. The fire brigade and reindeer herders rescued a dozen reindeer from the icy water. Only later did they discover the extent of the incident. One of the largest lakes in Finnmark The name “Stuorajávri”, which means “large lake” in Norwegian, gives a clue to the size of the water. When the reindeer go through the ice in several different bays, in one of Finnmark’s largest lakes, it is difficult to get an overview of the situation. At first they thought that there were only a dozen reindeer that had ended up in the water, but over the next few days they only found more and more. So far, close to 190 reindeer have been found. – We found so many, many more than first thought, says Nils Ante Gaup, chairman of the reindeer herding district. Nils Ante Gaup and other reindeer owners are distraught and deeply affected by the incident. Photo: Malene Gaino Buljo / news During an inspection with the state administrator on Saturday, they also found reindeer under the ice. – It is difficult to assess how many reindeer may be there, which we have not found, and which have disappeared under the ice, he says. Losing close to 190 reindeer is one of the tragedies that affects many. – It is heavy and it affects everyone in the district. When so many reindeer die, you know that there are also children and elderly reindeer. It is broken, it affects us all. Reindeer have frozen to death in the water. Photo: Nils Ante Gaup The mayor calls the incident a tragedy, but praises the fire crew, and says that it was not due to their will to save more people. – I am sure that if you had the equipment you need, you could have saved far more animals. Don’t have the resources to get equipment In the autumn, the reindeer herds move from summer pasture to winter pasture. Then the ice is weak and it is a dangerous period for both reindeer and shepherds. – When it snows on thin ice, the reindeer are brave enough to walk on it. This is how they have walked on the lake, reindeer owner Henrik A. Sara told news last week. Henrik A. Sara asks other reindeer herders to be careful on the thin autumn ice. Photo: Malene Gaino Buljo / news The mayor says that the municipality lacks a boat that can be used to quickly get to accident sites. – With a hovercraft you can quickly get over vulnerable ice to save reindeer, people and other animals, he says. – Who is responsible for not having enough good equipment? – Of course the municipality, but the municipality does not have the resources to obtain the necessary equipment to solve such crises, says the mayor. – We must consider how we will in future strengthen preparedness to meet such incidents. It is, of course, about investments to buy equipment. Losing close to 190 reindeer is one of the tragedies that affects everyone in the reindeer grazing district. Photo: Nils Ante Gaup Climate change in the emergency plan In Kautokeino municipality’s emergency plan there are no scenarios for similar events. The mayor explains that in such situations it is the duty of the fire service to save people and animals. This causes the leader of the Norwegian Reindriftsamers Landsforbund (NRL), Inge Even Danielsen, to react. – Then they have to have appropriate tools to be able to do as good a job as possible. The leader of the Norwegian Reindriftsamers National Association, Inge Even Danielsen, sees the need for them to get permission to use the national crisis fund for relevant purposes. Photo: Solveig Norberg / news In the wake of changes in the climate, NRL records that reindeer drowning is occurring more frequently. – We probably have to start thinking about having a contingency plan. This applies to both the NRL and municipalities such as Kautokeino. – I see a need for us to be able to obtain permission or a hearing for what the national crisis fund can be used for. Published 22.10.2024, at 19.35
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Think they could have saved more of the 190 reindeer that walked through the ice with the right equipment – news Sápmi
