Why herd reindeer

If reindeer herding disappears, Sami traditions may vanish too. The language itself reflects this powerful bond: The word for "herd" is eallu ; the word for "life" is eallin. All rights reserved. This story appears in the November issue of National Geographic magazine. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants.

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Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. The corrall allows the herders to identify the owners of the young deer; ear-marking, health checks and vaccinations are subsequently carried out.

Ear-marking needs to take place before the herd begins the swim across the fjord; by the time they have reached the mainland, many calves will have separated from their mothers.

A small boat follows the herd, ready to assist any calves that are not strong enough to swim the distance. By Mara Santilli. Tiina Sanila-Aikio Getty Images. Also By Mara Santilli. More From Deep Dives. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. My personal theory is that these political bodies that were established to give these licenses were dominated by men and men tended to give licenses to other men.

Because each siida has a limited number of reindeer, men tend to do most of the herding work. Global warming and land encroachment also pose threats.

Even in winter, reindeer roam over natural grazing areas, rooting out lichen that they can smell through deep snow. But last winter, unusual weather forced herders to buy feed instead of relying on the land. Snow melted and then re-froze, forming a thick layer of ice over the lichen and making it difficult for reindeer to eat.

Vacation cabins and the roads they require are a particular point of contention. With mining, the Sami may get a break: the laws concerning mining in Norway are currently being re-written to include broader surveying requirements and more protections for herders.

But under current Norwegian law, Hivand says, the land that reindeer use for grazing is not permanently protected.