Reindeer break into the ice and can hardly find any food
Warmer temperatures are causing major problems for reindeer in the tundra and taiga. Less permafrost means thinner ice. The animals are collapsing and finding less and less food in their natural environment. Breeders are therefore resorting to unusual measures.
The climate crisis is causing problems for the reindeer kept by breeders in northern Norway. As the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim recently announced, there is a threat of problems with young animals. According to Anna-Laila Danielsen, who wrote her master's thesis on the problem, it is often no longer cold enough for lakes and rivers to freeze over and for the reindeer to walk across the ice on their way to their winter grazing grounds. This interrupts the migration routes.
Reindeer live in the tundra and taiga of the northern polar regions. They are the only domesticated deer species. Breeders also reported to Danielsen that a light layer of snow often covers the still thin ice. The animals are then often unable to recognize that the ice is not yet bearing weight. They can then collapse when walking over it. Some breeders therefore want to build bridges for the reindeer.
In addition, there is now less permafrost and winter temperatures fluctuate around freezing point more frequently than in the past. As a result, several thin layers of ice can form on the snow, which together are so hard that the reindeer can no longer reach the food under the ice, writes Danielsen. The herders therefore have to bring in additional food, which is expensive and time-consuming, especially as vehicles with hay and pellets cannot get everywhere in the wilderness.
There is also often crowding among the reindeer when they are fed. Dominant animals keep other animals away from the food. This is not a problem in the wild, where the weaker ones look for another place to graze. This is not possible at an artificial feeding site. Some breeders have now developed special feeding devices.
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Education about climate change is crucial to addressing the challenges faced by reindeer in Norway. Awareness about the warming climate and its impact on the reindeer's habitat can help breeders adapt their strategies and mitigate the effects.
To further protect reindeer in the face of climate change, Norwegian schools could incorporate climate change education into their curriculum, focusing on the impact of global warming on Arctic wildlife and the importance of preserving these delicate ecosystems.
Source: www.ntv.de
