Approximately 60 percent of the calves died during the winter, which is twice as many compared to a normal year, according to Jonas Sjaunja, vice chairman of Unna Tjerusj sameby.
According to Sjaunja, this will have significant economic consequences for the reindeer herders, as they cannot sell as many reindeer for slaughter.
You have no margin to take the slaughter extraction you would like to do to make a living from reindeer herding, says Sjaunja to P4.
Due to the late snow, the reindeer could not be moved to the forest from the mountains in time, as snowmobiles are needed for the move. In the mountains, the reindeer are unprotected and have been heavily exposed to predators, particularly eagles.
The fact that many calves have died will also affect the size of the reindeer herds in the future.
It doesn't look very bright, says Sjaunja.
