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Hunters cull 3,500 reindeer on islands near Antarctica Hunters cull 3,500 reindeer on islands near Antarctica
(17 days later)
Hunters have slaughtered 3,500 reindeer on a British island near Antarctica to try to get rid of the animals that were brought from Norway a century ago and are an increasing threat to native wildlife.Hunters have slaughtered 3,500 reindeer on a British island near Antarctica to try to get rid of the animals that were brought from Norway a century ago and are an increasing threat to native wildlife.
The reindeer on South Georgia were corralled into pens and slaughtered by a 16-strong team, mostly Sami reindeer herders from Norway, officials said on Monday. Marksmen shot animals in remote areas with rifles. Up to 1,500 reindeer remain for a final cull in 2014.The reindeer on South Georgia were corralled into pens and slaughtered by a 16-strong team, mostly Sami reindeer herders from Norway, officials said on Monday. Marksmen shot animals in remote areas with rifles. Up to 1,500 reindeer remain for a final cull in 2014.
"It will be an amazing change for the island" to have no reindeer, Martin Collins, chief executive of the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, said by telephone."It will be an amazing change for the island" to have no reindeer, Martin Collins, chief executive of the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, said by telephone.
The reindeer, naturally at home in the polar regions, were imported by whalers in the early 20th century to be used as a source of food. Their numbers grew from a few dozen and they have increasingly trampled the ground nests of birds, such as king penguins and the South Georgia pipit. They cause soil erosion and eat plants such as tussac grass.The reindeer, naturally at home in the polar regions, were imported by whalers in the early 20th century to be used as a source of food. Their numbers grew from a few dozen and they have increasingly trampled the ground nests of birds, such as king penguins and the South Georgia pipit. They cause soil erosion and eat plants such as tussac grass.
"Several decades of over-grazing means that the reindeer are a severe threat to birds that are only found on this island," said Reidar Andersen, head of the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate, which oversaw the hunters in a statement."Several decades of over-grazing means that the reindeer are a severe threat to birds that are only found on this island," said Reidar Andersen, head of the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate, which oversaw the hunters in a statement.
South Georgia is also running a long-term project to kill off rats and mice, which have spread across the island after arriving on ships.South Georgia is also running a long-term project to kill off rats and mice, which have spread across the island after arriving on ships.
The unwanted animals are part of a worldwide problem of invasive species, such as European rabbits in Australia or South American water hyacinth plants in some African lakes. Such species can spread disease and undermine food production. One estimate a decade ago of the global damage caused by invasive species was $1.4tn a year.The unwanted animals are part of a worldwide problem of invasive species, such as European rabbits in Australia or South American water hyacinth plants in some African lakes. Such species can spread disease and undermine food production. One estimate a decade ago of the global damage caused by invasive species was $1.4tn a year.
The meat from the culled reindeer, which were killed in recent weeks, has been taken by freezer ship to the Falkland Islands where it will be sold to residents and passing cruise ships to offset the £500,000 cost of the cull.The meat from the culled reindeer, which were killed in recent weeks, has been taken by freezer ship to the Falkland Islands where it will be sold to residents and passing cruise ships to offset the £500,000 cost of the cull.
Collins said lessons learnt from the cull may help France, which wants to eradicate reindeer introduced a century ago to the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean.Collins said lessons learnt from the cull may help France, which wants to eradicate reindeer introduced a century ago to the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean.
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