http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/19/sweden.reindeer.ap/index.html

140 reindeer chased off cliff

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 Posted: 8:49 AM EDT (1249 GMT)

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Sami reindeer herders in northern Sweden found about 140 of their prized animals dead in a bloody heap after the herd apparently was chased off a 700-meter (2,300-foot) high cliff by a predator, a Sami spokesman said Tuesday.

The reindeer had been grazing for bait on a mountain near Kvikkjokk, a small town just north of the Arctic Circle, when a lynx or other predator made them panic and run straight down the cliff, said Nils Petter Pavval, a spokesman for the Sami village of Tourpon.

"Reindeer do not normally run off cliffs when they are grazing on the top of the mountain," Pavval said, adding that fresh tracks of lynx had been found in the area.

The reindeer were found last week after crows and eagles were seen circling the mountain side, Pavval said.

Pavval said most of the reindeer fell about 200 meters down the cliff, before rolling and bouncing another 500 meters down the mountain side. Some had been chewed up by scavengers, he said.

The once nomadic Sami followed their reindeer herds to the northern fringes of Europe thousands of years ago and settled in the Arctic regions.

Only a fraction -- perhaps 10 percent -- of the estimated 80,000 Sami still herd reindeer in the lands they inhabit across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

In the Tourpon village, however, reindeer herding is still one of the main sources of income.

"The whole village has been affected," Pavval said. "Everybody has lost some reindeer."

He said the Sami plan to ask the Swedish government to reimburse them about 300,000 kronor (€33,000; $42,000) for the animals.

quote:

Originally posted by Lynn D:
He said the Sami plan to ask the Swedish government to reimburse them about 300,000 kronor (€33,000; $42,000) for the animals.

Huh? Why is the gov't responsible?

Well for a start they allow @8%$all lynx to be shot (not that that stops our Sami friends )

It might also be thought worthwhile to protect a vanishing way of life not to mention for the Sami it's a bit akin to floods, act of God etc which Governments generaly financialy assist.

quote:

Originally posted by JKKP:
Their traditional way of life ...... need massive economical support from the government.

Sounds like the average European farmer!


(BTW that was the gist of my original comment too!)

Things might be differant in Sweden, but here in Norway, I can honostly say that there are very few upsides to the Sami society we have. They have in the last few decades destroyed their own grazing land due to letting their herds get too large (I mean so large that it's just silly), and generally try to keep everyone else out from "their land".

Last I checked, Norway was one nation. Not so according to the Sami, who have their own "parliament" and now want their own Sami flag next to our nations flag on Norways independance day (17th of May).

Basically, all people are equal, but the Sami like to be more equal than others.

Preferably with government financial support...