Christmas crisis for reindeers

(Vatican Radio) The Christmas reindeer is universally associated with Santa Claus riding in from the far North to present gifts to children on Christmas day.
Yes, we are all familar with the traditional image of Santa's eight reindeers that magically pull his sleigh through the sky.

Reindeers in fact were ancient domestic animals as witnessed by prehistoric rock paintings and by ancient artefacts made with parts of the animal.

Through the centuries, reindeer have become a beloved symbol of Christmas.

But all is not well this year for reindeers as reports show that an iconic reindeer herd, once the largest in the world, has shrunk to a fraction of its former size.

A Canadian governement survey shows that the country's George River Herd, once numbered over 8 thousand reindeers, now only counts 27 and a half thousand.

This dramatic decline has left local indigenous people fearful for its survival.

Survival International, an organization working for tribal peoples' rights worldwide has issued a reprort explaining that one of the major factors of the reindeers decline, is continued mining and mineral exploration.

Jonathan Mazower, Survival’s Head of Media and Advocacy, told Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni that the reindeer, known as caribou in North America, are central to the lives and culture of many indigenous people in the sub-Arctic. Their falling numbers have left local indigenous people fearful for their very existance...

Listen to the interview…

Mazower explains that recently an industrial giant in the mineral sector has announced that it wants to build a road through the heart of the reindeer's calving grounds.

He says that Canada's promotion of industrial projects on its land has destroyed large tracts of the reindeer's grazing rounds, and this disrupts their migratory routes.

Mazower also says that some scientists are putting the blame on indigenous hunting practices for the herd's decline. However the Innu, the tribe in question, has co-existed with the caribou for thousands of years.

It is proven in fact, that indigenous peoples are the world's best conservationists.

For more information on this story and on the work of Survival Internatioinal:

http://www.survivalinternational.org/