13 reindeer found dead in Svalbard, leaving scientists baffled

The Norwegian Institute for Natural Research tells the AFP news agency that it has no clear indication or hypothesis as to what caused the deaths.

In winter, it is the youngest and oldest that die. These animals are in their healthiest and most productive period of life, says researcher Vebjørn Veiberg.

The discovery of the dead reindeer - eleven females and two males - was made on Spitsbergen during an annual inventory.

Veterinarians are of course looking at an explanation related to disease, but it seems unlikely that a disease would mainly attack the most robust animals, says Veiberg.

The Svalbard reindeer is a subspecies of wild reindeer that is only found on Svalbard.