Falklands - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd

Recently, when researching something else, I came across series of beautiful, Mongolian, postage stamps highlighting the Tsaatan people’s lifestyle throughout different seasons. After a quick Google I found loads of other beautiful stamps from many different reindeer herding nations across the world. I thought people might enjoy having a look through some of the beautiful reindeer artwork displayed on some of the stamps.

Mongolian postage stamps:

The Mongolian stamps that I found portray images of the Tsaatan people (also known as the Dhuka), a group of indigenous, nomadic reindeer herders who live in the depths of the Taiga in northern Mongolia. The Tsaatan are one of the few indigenous reindeer herders who ride their reindeer.

*Mongolian stamp showing an image of a Tsaatan camp.*

*Mongolian stamp showing an image of Tsaatan schoolchildren riding their reindeer.*

*Mongolian stamp showing an image of Tsaatan migration.*

I also found this much older Mongolian stamp from 1961. Note how it also shows reindeer being ridden.

Mongolian stamp from 1961.

Norwegian postage stamps:

I found a whole range of Norwegian postage stamps from this first one from 1914 advertising Norwegian trips (Norwegenfahrten) with a particular shipping company along with some others with beautiful illustrations.

*Norwegian stamp from 1963 showing a reindeer.*

Russian postage stamps:

Russia is home to many indigenous reindeer herders from the Sami who inhabit the Kola peninsula in the northwest of Russia, to the Chukchi who live in the northeastern part of Siberia (with many other indigenous herders living in between). I found just a few Russian stamps showing reindeer including one showing reindeer racing.

South Georgian postage stamps:

For about 100 years, reindeer resided in South Georgia and this is reflected in some of their stamps. The reindeer were introduced in the early 20^th century as a food source for whalers. After the end of whaling with the lack of humans or predators the number of reindeer increased to the point there were too many for the land, so the decision was made to eradicate the south Georgian reindeer between 2013 and 2015.

Falklands postage stamps:

In 2001 a group of roughly 50 reindeer were translocated from South Georgia to the Falkland Islands and some of their stamps in the years following celebrate the reindeer through the different seasons.

*Falkland Islands – Reindeer in Winter*.

*Falkland Islands – Reindeer feeding on tussock grass*.

USA postage stamps:

North America is home to the Caribou which is the same species as reindeer, but haven’t been domesticated. They are found in Canada and Alaska. Here they are celebrated in this beautiful stamp.

Lotti

I’m from New Zealand so anything Southern Hemisphere-related reminds me of home..

I have been doing some research about any reindeer activity in the Southern Hemisphere. As we all know reindeer are native to the Arctic region but it appears they quite like the Antarctic region as well. Though animals introduced outside their native land always have some sort of impact.

In 1911 Norwegian whalers introduced reindeer onto South Georgia. South Georgia is a sub-Antarctic island situated in the South Atlantic about 1000 miles off the western coast of Argentina. It is almost exactly the same distance from the equator as we are here in Scotland. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands and just what reindeer like!

An old whaling map of South Georgia (maked as Unknown Land) and the Falkland Islands, shown as close to South America. Photo taken from Mick Roger’s blog.

HMS Leeds Castle in Stromness South Georgia — HMS Leeds Castle in Stromness Bay, Falkland Islands, with introduced reindeer on the shore. Photo taken from Mick Roger’s blog.

The reindeer were introduced to provide recreational hunting and for fresh meat for the numerous people working in the whaling industry at the time. Since the end of the Whaling industry in 1960s the reindeer population had been growing uncontrollably. In 2011 it was noted that their numbers had exploded and the islands habitats were being destroyed. Fears of forcing some birds into extinction it was decided to eradicate the island of its reindeer population.

As these reindeer were introduced outside of their native range they were having significant impact on flora and fauna. Their range on the island was limited by natural glacial borders meaning their density increased to much higher than normal levels. In the Cairngorms we have a density of approximately one reindeer per square kilometre. On South Georgia the density had swollen to between 40 and 80 reindeer per km2. Imagine the northern corries here in the Cairngorms with 3000 – 6000 reindeer! The available land on South Georgia couldn’t support this many reindeer leaving many to die of starvation in the winter. Another common cause of death was falling from cliffs while trying to access ungrazed areas.

Over two years from 2013, 6,690 reindeer were culled on South Georgia. Animal welfare professionals were involved and 7500kg of meat was recovered.

In an attempt to diversify agriculture on the Falkland Islands around 50 reindeer were translocated from South Georgia prior to the eradication. I couldn’t find much information about this farming enterprise online but let’s hope it doesn’t end in another ecological nightmare!

Reindeer were also introduced to the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Islands in 1954 this time however from Swedish Lapland. The Kerguelen Islands are a French territory in the southern Indian Ocean. In the 1970s reindeer numbers were recorded at 2000. Unsuccessful attempts to introduce reindeer to Chile and Argentina also occurred in the 1940s.

800px-Falkland_Islands_Penguins_87 — Southern Rockhopper penguins on the Falkland Islands, the new island-mates of the introduced reindeer. Photo by Ben Tubby.

So where does all this info leave us? It seems reindeer are extremely well suited for the sub Antarctic climate but without close and continued management is a very risky game as they are not native to the region. And for me, it seems I may be able to continue my career as a Reindeer Herder in the Southern Hemisphere, if I ever go back.

Dave

Tag: Falklands

Reindeer Artwork on Postage Stamps.

Reindeer of the Southern Hemisphere