The video, which was filmed by SNO through a telescope in October, shows how a photographer is very close to a herd of wild reindeer and causes them to flee. Large tourist traffic in this area is also part of the background to a number of proposals on measures for the wild reindeer on Dovrefjell that have just been launched. Among other things, tunnels for the E6 and the railway, closure of tourist huts and relocation of the muskox. It was Espen Rusten in SNO who discovered the foreign photographer. He believes the photographer did a deliberate act. Among other things, by pursuing several herds of wild reindeer after first unwittingly running one of the herds. – What the person in question did was that he did not choose to withdraw calmly and leave the animals alone. He instead chose to actively pursue the herds, presumably to take photographs, Rusten says. MORE INCIDENTS: Espen Rusten in SNO says they receive many messages about people disturbing wild animals on Dovrefjell. Photo: Reidar Gregersen Vill Reindeer Photo: Per Jordhøy The Vill Reindeer is adapted to a life high in the mountains also in winter and lives by eating lichens, among other things. In summer, grass, herbs, heather, willows and mushrooms are on the menu. In Norway there are populations of wild reindeer from Agder in the south to Dovre in the north. North of this, all Norwegian reindeer are domestic reindeer. The total Norwegian population of wild reindeer is estimated to consist of approximately 25,000 animals in winter. Source: Great Norwegian Lexicon The tip of the iceberg There is section 15 of the Natural Diversity Act which states that unnecessary hunting of wild animals must be avoided. It is the first time that someone has been sentenced for unnecessary hunting of wild reindeer on Dovrefjell, but there have been cases with musk and arctic fox in the past. – Then we know that this is something we have to uncover, it is probably only the tip of the iceberg, says Rusten. He emphasizes that it is very unfortunate for all wild animals to be disturbed in this way. And they keep getting reports of disturbances and also chasing animals. There are also many examples of this in social media. Rusten will not generalize, but sees that there are many visitors who come to see, seek out and perhaps photograph the wildlife. – They do not mean to disturb and chase wildlife, but simply have a lack of knowledge about what can lead to unfortunate situations. Didn’t want to scare the animals news has been in contact with the photographer, who is of foreign origin and currently resides abroad. He does not want to be named, but tells news that he has accepted the fine because it could be even more expensive if he did not. – I agree that the animals were disturbed, but that was not my aim. I ran into them by accident and then tried to go around them. But they are very upset, so they ran away, he writes in an SMS to news. The photographer also points out that he thinks the size of the fine is a little ridiculous compared to the fact that the same animals were hunted a few weeks earlier. And that he disturbed them much less than the hunters did. THREATENED: The wild reindeer is on the red list and has been given a red light in the Environment Agency’s traffic light model in many places in southern Norway. Photo: Runar Tufto Wants traffic restrictions National Park manager at Dovrefjell, Bernhard Svendsgard, says that the incident happened in an area that is an important autumn and early winter grazing ground for the reindeer. – If it is then disturbed there, it will not be able to put on weight and maintain its form until next year, he says. Until now, positive measures have been taken to guide tourists to Viewpoint Snøhetta, by bus on Snøheimveien and onto the muskox trails. But the managers see that this is not enough. – We lack the last instrument, which is a little more restrictive. Among other things, traffic restrictions in small parts of the area for parts of the year, says Svendsgard. The manager emphasizes that although there is a large focus on tourist traffic on Dovrefjell, the east-west move to the Snøhetta tribe is a bigger challenge. – Due to cabin construction and power development west of Snøhetta, between Lesja and Sunndal, the wild reindeer are not allowed to use this area as they originally did. And finally, Espen Rusten in SNO has an important clarification. He emphasizes that no one should fear being reported and fined on Dovrefjell if they are unlucky and disturb the wild reindeer. – It can happen to anyone. But when you deliberately choose and follow animals and eventually end up with a situation where you chase the animals away, it is a breach of the law, he says.
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Here the photographer scares the reindeer, now he has been fined 10,000 – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
