The World of Wild Reindeer is Shrinking – and Management is the Problem
Published 16.09.2022
The wild reindeer's world on Hardangervidda is shrinking. Land use conflicts, extreme hunting methods, and the threat of the disease CWD have placed this iconic species under severe pressure. The management that was supposed to protect the wild reindeer has instead been part of the problem, with measures such as helicopter hunting and snowmobile culling doing more harm than good. To ensure the survival of the wild reindeer, it does not need more interference – it needs peace, large, connected habitats, and time to live undisturbed.
Under seige from every corner
The wild reindeer on Hardangervidda, one of Europe's most iconic species, faces an uncertain future. The world-renowned wild reindeer herd, once free to roam the vast, open plateaus, has been under continuous pressure in recent decades. From the expansion of infrastructure such as ski resorts and gondola lifts, to intrusive hunting and helicopter culling, the wild reindeer's habitat is rapidly shrinking. The management that was supposed to protect this species has, in itself, become part of the problem.
The wild reindeer's last habitats on Hardangervidda and other nationally important areas have been fragmented and pressured from all sides. The conflict between nature conservation and economic development has been persistent, and the wild reindeer stands at the eye of the storm. The ski resort in Eidsfjord, the gondola lift to Rossnos Plateau in Odda, and other human activities are steadily encroaching on the reindeer's fragile habitats. These are not just land use conflicts, but serious threats to a species that is entirely dependent on large, interconnected areas to survive.
In addition, the disease CWD (chronic wasting disease) has cast a dark shadow over the already uncertain future of the wild reindeer. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal condition affecting cervids, and its spread has become a major concern for the management of the wild reindeer population. In response to this threat, authorities have made drastic decisions to "protect" the wild reindeer, such as extraordinary culling and helicopter hunting, but such measures are far from the solution. On the contrary, they have often caused more harm than good.
Historically low population levels - and increased culling?
The wild reindeer population on Hardangervidda has been at historically low levels for several years. From having a herd of around 10,000 animals before calving in 2011, and as many as 25,000 during the winter in the 1960s and 1980s, current population estimates for Hardangervidda are expected to be only 4,500 animals after the autumn hunt. These are dramatic figures that show a species in crisis.
In recent years, the management of wild reindeer has been characterized by extraordinary culling efforts in Hardangervidda and other border areas. In 2018, the entire wild reindeer population in Nordfjella zone 1 was culled in an attempt to prevent the spread of CWD, but this was quickly criticized by environmental organizations. Not only because the culling did not address the underlying problems, but also due to the animal welfare issues that followed the hunt. The helicopter hunting in Nordfjella, which lasted for several months, led to animal welfare harm and injuries, which received significant criticism from both the Norwegian Environment Protection Association (NMF) and other stakeholders.
NMF has long argued that the management of wild reindeer cannot be based on extreme measures such as helicopter and snowmobile hunting, which cause unnecessary stress and suffering for the animals. This is not a solution to the problems – it is an escalation of them. After strong opposition from organizations and local stakeholders, a new extraordinary culling was planned for the winter of 2024, but fortunately, the government stopped this. This was seen as a victory for the wild reindeer, but at the same time, it highlights the serious situation the animals are in – and how the management has handled it.
The Dark Shadows of Management
The management of wild reindeer on Hardangervidda has been marked by a lack of transparency and communication. NMF has repeatedly requested insight into the decisions underlying the culling, but has often been denied, whether it concerns government decisions or decisions made by local authorities. When decisions are made behind closed doors, without any public debate, it creates a serious trust issue. This is especially problematic in a matter that touches on both animal welfare, nature conservation, and local interests.
The government has been criticized for making secret decisions regarding the management of wild reindeer, and the withholding of information about helicopter hunting has led to increased mistrust from organizations and the public. Even in light of the investigations requested by NMF, the official response has been inadequate, and questionable practices have been ignored for a long time.
This has created an even stronger sense that the wild reindeer is not being treated as the important natural resource it is. The wild reindeer needs peace and time to recover – not further disruptions from humans attempting to "manage" the species by making it more suited to our own needs.
They need peace
All of this points to a primary cause of the wild reindeer’s threat – the management itself. We are facing an ecosystem on the brink of collapse under the weight of human activity. The last bastions of the wild reindeer are shrinking, and it is high time the management realizes that there are no more solutions in the form of culling and extreme hunting methods. The wild reindeer on Hardangervidda does not need more management – it needs time to live in peace. It needs large, continuous habitats, free from human intervention that fragments and reduces its natural range. It also needs protection from diseases like CWD, but not through extensive culling and helicopter hunting.
It is high time we realize that the best solutions do not lie in more intervention, but in allowing the wild reindeer to be wild. It must have the peace it needs to survive the winter and the opportunity to reproduce without the constant threat from humans. If we truly want to preserve the wild reindeer, it is time to change the management – and give the animals the peace they need to survive.
The world of the wild reindeer is shrinking, and the management is part of the problem. We have seen how land use conflicts, hunting, and illegal interventions have pushed the species to the brink of extinction. If we don't act quickly, the wild reindeer on Hardangervidda and in other areas will be gone for good. Now it is high time we give the wild reindeer the respect and freedom it needs to survive and change the course of management – before it's too late.
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