Nevertheless, the government will not carry out an extraordinary removal of wild reindeer on Hardangervidda this winter. Intensive ordinary hunting is what best ensures sustainable and long-term management of the wild reindeer population on the Hardangervidda, reports the government in a press release. – Extraction in winter, with the use of helicopters and snowmobiles, would have exposed the animals to stress during a difficult time, says Agriculture and Food Minister Sandra Borch (Sp). Fear for the future In September this year, a reindeer with scurvy was felled. This is the second case of the disease on Hardangervidda. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency therefore recommended winter hunting of wild reindeer in the fight against the disease. The proposal has met with strong opposition. The tribe on Hardangervidda is the largest with around 5,000 animals. This is a reduction of 2,500 animals since 2017. Last year, the wild reindeer were added to the red list and assessed as “near threatened”. Slope disease: A very serious and contagious disease in reindeer and other deer. There is no treatment for sick animals, and the outcome is always fatal for animals that become infected. The animals become infected by taking in prions through the mouth or nose. Infection can be transmitted through direct contact between animals, or indirectly by healthy animals coming into contact with the infectious agent in the environment (pasture, infected carcasses). The incubation period is long, up to several years, and the animals are apparently healthy for large parts of this period. However, they excrete prions in faeces, saliva, urine and nasal secretions long before they show signs of illness. Prions retain their infectivity even after a long time in the wild. – Now the reindeer can rest in peace Several hunters and landowners have said that they want to boycott hunting. They have feared for the future of the wild reindeer. – This was absolutely great news. It means so much to both me, but not least to the wild reindeer. Now we can lower our shoulders and the reindeer will be at peace, says the 17-year-old reindeer hunter Anders Lee from Skare in Ullensvang municipality. 17-year-old Anders Lee is a hunter and committed to the future of wild reindeer. Photo: Tale Hauso / news Lee believes the most important thing going forward is to hunt as normal, keep the tribe up and not shoot down too many. – This could be a big step for both me and my brothers to be allowed to continue hunting. – A day of joy All eight municipalities around Hardangervidda have been opposed to the proposal. Mayor of Vinje, Jon Richard Kleven, believes the government has made the right decision. – This means that we are not putting animal welfare at risk this winter. We can wait and have an ordinary hunt next autumn. So see what it tells us and give us further knowledge, says Kleven. Mayor of Vinje, Jon Rikard Kleven (Sp) Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news Mayor of Odda, Roald Aga Haug says that he is relieved and happy about the government’s decision. – Our point was that you would not eradicate the disease with this measure, but you would cause great suffering and stress to the reindeer, he says. Haug believes that the work to combat scrapie must continue in collaboration with hunters and local communities around the plain. Mayor of Odda municipality, Roald Aga Haug (Ap). Photo: Lidvard Sandven The Hardangervidda National Park Center also praises the government’s decision. – This is a very wise decision. We have the government to thank for that. On behalf of many landowners, I must say that this is very good, says the centre’s general manager, Per Lykke. He believes there must be more money for research into the disease. – It is a day of joy. At the same time, we must take this disease seriously. We will still keep an eye on this, but we need to get more facts on the table, says Lykke. – No decisive significance On Wednesday, VG published a video of a government helicopter hunt in Norfjella from a few years ago. The footage showed injured animals trying to escape from the helicopter. – This documents that the hunt is totally unjustified and that it is animal abuse. I have been involved in a lot of hunting over the years, but never seen anything so wild, said Stein Lier-Hansen, hunter and manager of the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Center to VG. The Ministry of Climate and the Environment says that they have been working on the case long before the videos were published. – For our part, the videos have not been of any decisive importance, but it is clear that they are dramatic images. It shows precisely that animal welfare must be emphasized in this type of case, says State Secretary Aleksander Øren Heen (Sp). State Secretary in the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Aleksander Øren Heen (Sp). Photo: CECILIE BERGAN STUEDAL Several hundred landowners have filed lawsuits to stop the winter harvesting of wild reindeer. – We believe it is crucial to have good cooperation with local administration in order to succeed in handling the disease. So going into a job war against local administration, I think, would be unwise, says Heen.
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Dropping winter hunting of wild reindeer – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
