South Georgia completes first phase of reindeer eradication: 1.900 animals
The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSCSSI) has announced the completion of the first phase of the eradication of reindeer from the island of South Georgia.
WHAT A PITTY COULDNT PERMIT TO HUNT THEM AND REDUCE THE POPULATION BESIDES EARNING A LOT OF MONEY AS AN AANTARTIC SPECIES SCI OF CARIBOU .
WHAT A TROPHY FOR A TRUE ADVENTURER ..
WE NEED THE SCI HERE .HOPEFULLY SOME ANIMALS SCAPED FROM THE KILLING .

Terrible. Seems these countries run by idiots. Same thing happening, from what I understand, with feral Camels in Australia. Outfitters trying to get licenses/permits to hunt them with a fee to the state, but the state sending out helicopters and machine guns..

MercoPress



South Georgia completes
first phase of reindeer
eradication: 1.900 animals

Montevideo, March 14th 2014 - 03:45 UTC

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSCSSI) has announced the completion of the first phase of the eradication of reindeer from the island of South Georgia.

The first phase of the project, which ran throughout January and February 2013, saw the removal of over 1.900 animals from the Busen area (one of two peninsulas on South Georgia that were inhabited by reindeer).

Norwegian whalers introduced the reindeer to two parts of the island in the early 1900s and Norwegian expertise has been instrumental in their demise. Reindeer numbers increased after whaling ceased in the mid-1960s and they have had a devastating impact on the island's vegetation, with knock-on effects on native bird species.

In January and February 2013 a group of Norwegian experts, including indigenous Sami herders and expert marksmen, joined GSGSSI staff to undertake the £500,000 first phase.
Depending on the terrain, one of two methodologies was utilised. In central areas, the team of Sami reindeer experts gathered the reindeer into a corral where they were humanely killed under veterinary supervision. In outlying areas, where the terrain meant it was not possible to herd animals, animals were shot by experienced marksmen from the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO).

Meat was recovered from approximately half of all animals that were killed, and proceeds from the sale of the meat will partially offset some of the costs of the eradication.

Small numbers of reindeer may have been missed by the operation, but are likely to be spotted from South Georgia Heritage Trust helicopters that are now dropping rat bait over the Busen area. Skilled marksmen will shoot any remaining reindeer that are spotted.

In parallel with the removal of reindeer, several scientific research projects were undertaken, including the establishment of long-term monitoring programmes of plants, birds and invertebrates to track the recovery of the island's systems after the eradication. It is encouraging that only a few weeks after the removal of the reindeer there are already good signs that the vegetation is recovering.

In addition to the work on the Busen area, the SNO marksmen made a start on the larger Barff Peninsula and shot over 1500 animals from remote locations. It is thought that over 1500 animals remain in the Barff area and this work will be completed in January and February 2014.

The eradication of reindeer is one of a number of projects (including eradication of rats, mice and non-native plants) that are designed to safeguard the native species, habitats and landscape of the unique environment of South Georgia. Commissioner Nigel Haywood who recently visited the island to witness the project first hand said: “This represents a very important landmark in our efforts to safeguard the native fauna of South Georgia.”

GSGSSI CEO Martin Collins, who was on the island overseeing the project, said: “The combination of reindeer and rat eradications will help return South Georgia to a more natural state. We expect to see a rapid recovery in vegetation, invertebrate populations and, in particular, ground nesting birds.”
 

That's a lot of money to waste when they could
have had at least as much as income from selling
these hunts and still reduce the numbers.
Proof there's typical government a/h's all over
the world.
George

This is really sad. And it is just the kind of essentially genocidal thinking to which our gov'ts have become habituated.

are these islands part of those jointly claimed by GB and Argentina( the Falklands/Malvenas)???

Yes this were part of the war ,one of the commandos that landed there served with me and he told me when i was very young that there they killed some caribous for eating .After this ,i began to dream about doing an expedition there to hunt caribous ,it would be a true adveure specially in a sail boat as i was planning for several years ,but after discovering this notice i was deeply sad ,cannot understand this view of the willife ,WE CAN REDUCE NUMBERS ,WE CAN MANAGE THE HERD but EXTERMINATE A BIG HERD STABLISHED IN THE 1800S THATS CRIMINAL.

it is simply short-sighted stupidity on the part of so called game managers/conservationists. when a species has been in a habitat for several hundred years, they are no longer invasive, although they may need culling from time to time( as do native species).

I disagree in this case, and think the extermination is a good thing. These were domestic reindeer released, and are just feral sheep with antlers. They are in a unique environment, in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and there are far better places for a reindeer hunt. The government are also exterminating the rats, and I am guessing nobody argues against that.

If these exterminations save some petrel, plant or beetle for posterity, it is a fair trade. It is my opinion that very, very few would have travelled to s.georgia in the middle of the south Pacific to shoot a semi-tame reindeer stag (or cull 1500 calves and hinds per year). I do not even think there are flights there.

Though it does look like an appealing place!

http://www.sgisland.gs/index.p...ome_to_South_Georgia

and how many travel to the island to look at beetles, plants and petrels??

About 10500 in 2013, apparently. I hunt lots of non-native species, and would not want their eradication everywhere. I am just saying that in this case, it is not a loss to the hunting world. The beetle has a value even if no one sees it...

http://www.sgisland.gs/downloa...0Annual%20Report.pdf

I disagree totally ,because i have been speaking with ex navy commandos and they told me the caricous were totally wary ,very wild and in difficult terrain to hunt them most of the land is mountanois .Just put the caribous as a SOUTH AMERICAN SCI specie and you will see that many hunters will pursue them .It could be a great adventure and trust me ,im an ex military but i work for DR JUAN POZZI guiding ,you can make millions with them .

quote:

Originally posted by Muntjac:
About 10500 in 2013, apparently. I hunt lots of non-native species, and would not want their eradication everywhere. I am just saying that in this case, it is not a loss to the hunting world. The beetle has a value even if no one sees it...

http://www.sgisland.gs/downloa...0Annual%20Report.pdf

read your own link. over half the visitors were cruise ship passengers, which means they were going where the ship itinerary took them- they didn't necessarily come to see petrels, reindeer, or beetles. and read closely the report concerning the numerous birds killed by indiscriminate rat poisoning- including petrels. apparently the bi-kill was significant.....the Norwegian wharf rat is now worldwide but guess where it came from. would you support dropping poison from planes to kill it in Norway? what is a beetle's value? using this logic, every living thing has value and nothing should be exterminated- including the Anopheles mosquito. after all, the mosquito is indigenous to Africa and therefore has a rightful place there. of course, the millions dying from malaria might think otherwise.

Many many tourists went to the Georgias each year ,many of them commented about the caribous and some of them rented sail boats to travel there IMAGINE A SAFARI BY VESSEL BOAT i hunt professionally and i can assure you that i could sell this hunts and make money for paying game rangers to take care of the birds .

Then I am sorry the opportunity is now gone. It would have been an adventure, as reindeer are my favourite deer, and I am fond of (ant)arctic places. I have a week, at least, booked in September for the local variety.

For the record, the norwegian brown rat comes from China or thereabouts, apparently.

YES YOU ARE RIGTH ......HOPEFULLY ILL HUNT IN SWEDEN AND NORWAY SOON ,I WAS INVITED BY NORMA SEVERAL TIMES.