There you are, reindeer! Reindeer farm in Nuuksio National Park, Finland. In the reindeer country - Lapland in summer Trip to a reindeer farm in Lapland

Rovaniemi - native home Santa Claus, a city located right on the Arctic Circle, is deservedly considered one of the best winter sports centers in Finland. The city of Rovaniemi with a population of 35,000 inhabitants is the capital of Lapland. Everyone who wants to get to know the culture and way of life of this northern region, definitely come here.

Thanks to the presence snow cannons, which guarantee snow cover on the slopes and pistes, the ski season here begins in October. Here is a point that is probably photographed more often than all other sights in Finland - the Arctic Circle sign located at the northern entrance to the city with the designation of the exact geographical latitude this imaginary line.

In addition to the main duty to fulfill innermost desires, Santa Claus has a lot of worries. He is a very busy grandfather. Judge for yourself: in a year he reads more than six million letters from 184 countries (even from distant New Guinea and Madagascar!). And then there are messages e-mail throw, there is no time to rest. It's good that the faithful dwarf helpers in red caps and striped golfs sort out the bags of letters. Sometimes Santa can be seen rushing around the city on a deer - there is not enough time, time flies, before you have time to look back, how New Year turns into old, years are compressed into centuries, and now the change of a whole millennium has come.

Deer are everywhere here. This does not mean that they are ownerless, although they can roam without any supervision. They belong to the indigenous inhabitants of Lapland - the Sami, who live here about five thousand. By the way, not only Santa Claus can ride reindeer, but anyone who wants to experience this unusual vehicle. To do this, you just need to take special short-term courses on "driving deer", after which you are awarded "reindeer rights". And then, harness, let's go!

Where the reindeer will take you is impossible to say for sure, but for sure you will not be able to miss one of the main attractions of Finland with the Arctic Circle sign. Taking a picture next to him, you will feel like a real polar explorer and understand that it is time to boldly go to the "places of Santa Claus".

The best Finnish resorts are located in Lapland. These are Levi, Saariselkya and Ylläs. Fans of impeccable service will not be able to find fault with anything. There are high-class hotels and cozy cottages where you can find everything your heart desires: swimming pools, jacuzzis, saunas, GYM's, billiards. Night safari on snowmobiles, reindeer and dog sleds awaits you, as well as entertainment in a tropical water park with all the pleasures that come with it.

Be sure to take the time to ride the dog sled. Finnish huskies, or huskies, conquer everyone with their kindness. Also, they have blue eyes like the sky. While the owner ties them into a harness, the huskies whine and bark with impatience - so you want to hit the road as soon as possible! You can even try to drive a team, although this is not as easy as it seems at first glance.

It can also happen that you get bored with the comfortable atmosphere in the hotel. Then we advise you to experience the proverb known to everyone: "With a sweetheart, paradise in a hut." Everyone can do it in a hut, but what about an ice hut, inside which is minus 3 - 8 degrees? But just imagine that through the transparent ice ceiling you will see the twinkling of the northern lights. According to Japanese belief, it brings happiness in the birth and upbringing of children. Yes, you can endure everything for this (especially since in fact warm sleeping bags will protect you from any cold). You can live in a house made of ice, which is called "igloo", in the town of Saariselkä. There, by the way, there is a whole village: twenty igloo houses, an ice church where the newlyweds are crowned. an ice sculpture gallery and even an ice bar.

In the realm of snow, it is impossible to deny yourself the pleasure of skiing, snowboarding, skating and sledding. Polar windsurfing will give you an extraordinary experience: you get on your skis, pick up a small parachute, and now - catch the wind and go! Inveterate skiers who prefer flat running are better off heading to Kuopio - this city is surrounded by over 400 km of ski slopes. Professionals can recommend the ski stadium on the Pujo fell, where the world's only ski jumping school operates. Skiers and snowboarders are waiting for the high-class ski resorts of Takho and Himos, and you can rent the equipment of the "snow extreme" for rent. If you want to teach your kid to ski, then Jyväskylä is the place for you, where even three-year-olds are trained.

And your child will always remember Lumilinna Castle, located in Kemi. In this shining ice palace, guests are greeted by the "spirits of Lumilinna" Terttu and Arttu - a pair of funny creatures that appear here and there. With them you can ride the hill and see the sights of the castle. For the night, we advise you to stay in an icy two-story hotel at the castle, where the beds are made of wood and snow. Do you think you will freeze in a lambskin sleeping bag, lying on a thick mattress stuffed with straw? In such a bed, by the light of candles, no frost is terrible. But you will feel just like in childhood ..

So, to Lapland! There, where every year the Christmas fairy tale begins and miracles happen. There, where it is frosty and snowy, where the polar night and the northern lights. Just try to say at home: “That’s enough, we’re tired, we’re leaving for Santa Claus!”, And you will hear a cry of delight that escaped from your beloved child, who is already fucking tired of studying and terribly wants adventures in the country snow queen and the real Santa Claus, where, according to the Reindeer from Andersen's fairy tale, "a miracle is good."

Lapland is an ideal starting point for a variety of safaris: 150 motorized sledges can start from here on a journey through unknown expanses at the same time. Rovaniemi is also a city reindeer, from where every tourist can take away not only unforgettable impressions of a trip on a reindeer sleigh, but also real "rights" to drive this local vehicle.

How much the entertainment costs: A reindeer and dog safari costs about $100 (500 Finnish marks). The same is the cost of a one-day cruise on an icebreaker in the Gulf of Bothnia and a night in an ice hotel. Don't forget to take a picture with Santa Claus (80 FIM) and take a diploma from him for visiting the Arctic Circle.

What else unusual can await a traveler in the land of the aurora borealis? Well, for example, you did not try, emerging from warm waters swimming pool, immediately get on your skis and take off from the hill?

Such entertainment offers the water park "Serena" in Helsinki. And dive into the waters of Bothnia, where the icebreaker from the city of Oulu will take you, and swim among the ice, is it weak? If yes, go fishing. True, for this you need to purchase a license, which costs about $ 20. You can fish on the shore of a lake in eastern Finland, and in rapids, and in the sea - on the Aland Islands off the Baltic coast.

In the ski resorts of Finland, you can not go skiing and snowboarding perfectly, but also get to know the locals better: deer, elk and husky dogs.

Ski resorts in Finland are not only a sea of ​​snow, dazzling winter landscapes, impeccable ski slopes, a feeling of joy, freedom and adrenaline. Neither children nor adults will be bored here, because there are many opportunities for a wide variety of entertainment on the territory of the resorts and in the vicinity! One of them is trips to deer, elk or husky farms. During a trip to the farms, you can chat with "be-be-bear" reindeer, swift-footed elk, as well as charming friendly huskies.

deer farms

Did you know that every reindeer in Finland has its own owner? There are special deer farms where these amazing animals are bred. Moreover, each deer has a brand by which its owner can be identified.

If you come to ski in Northern Finland (eg Vuokatti , Salla , Ruka or Ylläs), great option entertainment will be to look at one of the deer farms. For reindeer riding, it is best to come to the farm during the day, because at night you will not be able to see much. On the farm, you can not only ride reindeer, but also feed and pet the animals, as well as learn how to drive a reindeer team, and then get an official document - the right to drive reindeer! Those wishing to take something to remember from Finland with them can buy cute local souvenirs that are sold directly on the farm.

By the way, deer live on a farm far from all year round. In the spring, they are released for grazing, after which they disperse around Lapland in search of food. Deer are harvested on the farm only in winter. How do owners determine the location of deer? It turns out that each deer has a GPS transmitter, with which you can easily track the location of its movement. Interestingly, before the advent of cars, reindeer were the only means of fast transportation in Lapland.

Elk farms

In Finland, moose are also called Scandinavian elephants - they are very respected and appreciated here. According to the laws of Finland, only animals born in captivity can be kept on a farm - that is, moose are not caught in the wild, but are specially bred for keeping on farms. So far, the only moose farm in Finland, Hirvikartano, is located near the resort of Himos in central Finland.

Moose are the most large mammals in Finland, whose weight reaches 700 kg. The average body length is 3 m, and the height is 2.1 m. What do these amazing animals eat? Moose are fed with dried leaves of willow, birch and rowan, as well as potatoes, barley and hay. And the favorite delicacies of moose are apples, watermelons, tomatoes, carrots, rutabaga, bananas and dried willow-tea.

During your visit to the farm, you can pet, feed the animals and, of course, take pictures with them. When visiting a moose farm, it is very important not to make noise or disturb the peace of its inhabitants. If you want to take a picture with a horned elk, it is worth coming to the farm before January-February, when they start shedding their antlers. New horns grow in them only in May-June.

The moose living at the Hirvikartano farm are friendly. If you wish, you can perform a funny ritual “kiss with an elk” - holding a bread crust in your teeth, stretch it towards the furry elk muzzle. At the Hirvikartano farm, moose have learned to snatch the crust from their mouths so masterfully that it really turns out to be a real “kiss”. Be sure to try to capture this interesting moment in the camera frame!

By the way, moose are not the only animals in Hirvikartano. In addition to moose, northern and spotted deer with whom you can also meet and chat. An excellent end to the trip will be a visit to the restaurant located here. homemade food where you can taste delicious elk dishes.

Husky farm

Visiting husky farms leaves neither children nor adults indifferent. Husky dog ​​safari in Finland is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Farms with these charming "smiling dogs" can be found in many parts of the country, especially in the north.

Husky farms are nearby ski resorts Ruka, Ylläs, Salla, Vuokatti and many others. Here you can pet the dogs, take a ride in a high-speed dog train, and after a walk, treat yourself to a fragrant glög with gingerbread cookies and dine in a cat - a Lapland hut. Those who wish to ride longer can book a safari for longer distances - 5.7 and 13 km.

The strength and endurance of the Husky can only be envied! They are able to tirelessly run tens of kilometers. Did you know that these tireless runners can overcome up to 100 km / day? They are not afraid of frost and can sleep right on the snow. In addition, Huskies simply love to ride in sleds. Such a trip is a real expanse for them, because running is their favorite pastime!

Harness running requires special skills that are acquired only during training. In addition, in order to work in a team, the dog must have certain moral character- for example, diligence, good nature and sociality.

Before the safari, dogs are put on special harnesses that help to properly distribute the load. It is very important that the weight of the sled be at least 80 km, because with insufficient load it will be almost impossible to control them. On command, the Huskies start together. The sleigh does not go, but simply “flies” – the four-legged team works so harmoniously and harmoniously.

If you love speed and are looking for something unusual, Husky safari is what you need. At the same time, sensations and emotions are simply unforgettable, and memories from such a trip remain for a long time. Communication with four-legged blue-eyed fluffy Huskies will give the whole family a lot of positive emotions, and children will be delighted!

Sierijärvi farm and looked at the life of the farm from the point of view of a tourist. However, tourism is only part of their activities. Reindeer herding has never been a particularly easy job, and it is not easy now. Tourism is the missing source of income for many reindeer herders, but the traditional reindeer herding industry is at the center of it all. We will also attend traditional coral works - deer counting, which is carried out jointly by different reindeer herders of the area. Farms are different, there are "real" ones, that is, where families of reindeer herders live, and there are "tourist" ones, where the infrastructure for receiving guests has simply been created. We will visit a real farm!

And here are the owners of the farm - this is Ari Maununiemi (left) and his friend Sampo. The Manuniemi clan has been living here for more than one hundred years. Behind, by the way, you can see an old house Ari's grandfather, but no one lives in it now.
Ari has no brothers and sisters, so his friend Sampo helps him in his work. In the photo with reindeer herders, Lapland shepherd dogs.

Ari has been a reindeer herder since birth. He was born on this farm, but lived for some time in the city. Previously, his father was engaged in the farm, however, for health reasons, he had to significantly reduce labor loads. A year ago, he handed over the management of the farm to his son Ari and now only helps a little by deed or advice. Ari and Sampo are still young guys, they are 27 years old. They have not yet had time to acquire children, but both are married. They say that finding a wife who "understands" this way of life (working around the clock without days off) is not so easy :)

Sampo is an agrarian engineer by education, so for him this is a job in his specialty. He has been working on the farm for 6 years and lives nearby, a few kilometers away. It is important for a reindeer herder to always be on the alert and, in case of emergency, quickly come to the rescue.

Maununiemi family - Finns, not Sami, that is, unlike the northern Sami reindeer herders, they never led a nomadic lifestyle. The family lives in this place for a couple of hundred years now. Here is their fairly modern dwelling.

The oldest buildings on the farm were destroyed during the war, and Ari's grandfather had to rebuild everything. The very first, in 1947, this sauna was built, which is still in use. They lived in it while they were building a residential building, which is visible in the photo earlier.

The farm is named after the Sierijärvi lake of the same name. The farm is only 15 km from Rovaniemi, but the locals lead a fairly authentic lifestyle. Very popular fishing - this is both recreation and sports, and the opportunity to catch something for lunch or dinner. The guys go for mushrooms and berries and hunt game.

Near the house there is a special smokehouse where you can make smoked fish or meat.

Prey can be stored in a special storage.

But what kind of view opens up to the family every morning - this is work. A usual morning for reindeer herders starts early, at 7.00. It is necessary to feed the deer (although not all of them are on the farm at the same time), repair, clean, build, prepare firewood, etc. In winter when tourist season, that is, from December to the end of March, in addition to the usual troubles, other worries are added for organizing and selling excursions. Rise at about 6 am and work often ends late in the evening or around midnight. There is no such thing as a weekend.

In the center of the farm is a modern Lapland tent.

Here guests are welcomed and treated with hot drinks. You can arrange a trip to the farm yourself, without intermediaries. To do this, you just need to contact Ari directly and book an excursion with him, or at, which sells excursions at no extra charge. Standard visit includes introduction to the farm and reindeer, Lapland welcome ceremony, juice treats and sledding (in winter). You will be picked up from the center of Rovaniemi and brought to the farm and back. The standard skiing circle is 450 meters, but longer skiing (up to 5 kilometers) and lunch on the farm can be arranged. Local tour operators also offer farm trips. It will most likely be a bit more expensive. However, such trips are often carried out on snowmobiles, which means that in this case you are offered more adventures. There are several reindeer farms in Rovaniemi and it is not a fact that a particular tour operator works with a farm and will take you here.

Skating is arranged only in season. Here is a path next to the lake, along which they ride a reindeer team in winter.

Skiing equipment is stored in an old barn.

Deer antlers that deer shed once a year.

And here is the real owner of the farm is a loyal and experienced shepherd dog, Ranne, who helps herd deer into the herd. She is trained and performs various tricks.

Recently, the guys built a new building where there will be a restaurant for receiving guests.

Everything was done by hand, or at most with the help of neighboring reindeer herders or friends.

There is always something to patch up, do, adjust. Ari is also responsible for marketing the farm, working with tour operators and selling excursions to the farm. Everyone in the family is involved in preparing treats for tourists, although several more workers are hired during the season. Separately, we should mention the training of "tourist" deer that pull the sled. According to Ari, only 1 or 2 deer out of ten become "riding", the rest simply do not understand what they want from them. Training lasts for years, but with a break for summer holidays when the reindeer are resting. Reindeer need to get used to people, then to sleds, and then to pull the sled themselves for long distances. Even more difficult is the training of deer for deer races, although this farm does not do this.

The Maununiemi family has about 120 reindeer. This is quite small compared to reindeer herders in the north of Lapland, but there the state allows to keep more reindeer than in the south of Lapland. The largest owners have livestock in the thousands. Sampo's friend owns 5 more deer, he was given a "starter package" for a novice reindeer breeder :)

By the way, 2/3 of the world's reindeer live in Russia. It is a pity, however, that this trade is gradually losing its significance and the number of deer in Russia only in the 1990s decreased by more than two times from 2.5 million to 1.2 million. In Lapland, the maximum allowed number of livestock is 230,000. This is the part that stays over the winter after slaughter. Nature will not stand it any longer, or the deer will have to be fed all year like cows.

However, now, in October, there are no more than ten deer on the farm. The rest freely graze in the forest and feed on grass and other vegetation. The deer's diet includes more than 200 plant species, including mushrooms. In Lapland, reindeer herders do not constantly control the reindeer and they are left to their own devices. For most of the year, they find their own food, but in winter, when the snow is too deep and it is difficult to dig out reindeer moss, reindeer herders feed the reindeer on special forest feeders. Reindeer can move as far as 60-100 km from the farm. They move to different pastures depending on the season.

At at the entrance to the farm, a few kilometers away, you can see deer freely grazing. Most of them are from the farm Sierijärvi. They lay down in a field not far from the road to bask in the last rays of the October sun. Several times a year, deer are herded into small heaps, having previously found them in the forest. This is done to carry out coral work - counting deer, applying your "brand" for young deer and for slaughter. It is impossible to drive all deer in one place at one time, so this is done in stages and in different places.

The Maununiemi family has trained reindeer to come "home" for the winter. Half of the deer come by themselves, either out of habit or smelling food. Of course, some deer winter autonomously in the forest (if only because they are well encrypted from coral work), but the advantages of wintering on a farm are obvious. Despite the fact that reindeer can get reindeer moss from under the snow up to a meter deep, winter is still not a picnic for them, and there is always something to eat on the farm. Yes, someone must pull the sled or chew moss for extras!

When reindeer spend the winter on the farm, the reindeer breeder can sleep peacefully, then the reindeer will not die of hunger, it will not be eaten by a predator or run over by a car. Speaking of predators. A significant part of the deer, about a few percent, becomes food for animals. In Lapland, there are lynxes, wolves and bears who are not averse to eating venison, but the most dangerous beast for a deer, it is a wolverine. There are not so many wolverines in Rovaniemi, but to the north - this is a real misfortune. Wolverine preys mainly on deer, but kills not only for food, but also for " sports interest". Purely to "keep fit" or stock up for a rainy day.

Hunting wolverines in Finland is prohibited by law. For the aforementioned reason, in the 1980s, almost all wolverines were exterminated, that is, slightly overdone. The only way to save the species was a total ban on hunting, which is now punishable by a fine of a maximum of 16,500 €! The wolverine population has grown from a dozen individuals to a couple of hundred, however, as thousands of deer die from wolverines, the Finns are talking about rethinking this policy.

Wintering on a farm is safer, but it also has its downsides. Here, for example, a very young shepherd dog is found, which begins to try its hand and breaks the measured daily routine of deer, chasing them around the farm. Voiced barking and pressure little dog makes deer nervous, despite the fact that they are several times larger and equipped with antlers.

“Listen, brother, what are we going to do?”
- Oh, fuck him, let's get out!

The reindeer try not to be provocative and ask for the fence, which has accidentally closed.

Another day we are going to a very important event. - Coral works. Reindeer herders in Lapland are organized into reindeer herding associations geographical location. There are 52 such associations in total. Coral works is a team sport and reindeer herders from their area gather for them.

In the slang of reindeer herders, this is called "separation", since the reindeer are divided into groups, or "meeting", because for reindeer herders - it's just a chance to meet. Coral work is carried out several times a year and in different places in the region. In the summer, for example, reindeer herders go to the forest to put their brand on the little deer. This is done 3-4 times. autumn" deer collection"is carried out about 15 times in different places in order to determine those deer that will go for meat, and those who will be destined to continue the race.

There are no "no one's" reindeer in Lapland and all reindeer are divided to varying degrees among 5000 owners. Someone has thousands of deer, someone has only a few heads. There are also "amateur reindeer herders". They usually have only a small herd of reindeer that graze autonomously in the forest, but such reindeer herders tend to live in the city. For example, a relative may give a few deer as a gift on some important occasion, or the deer may be inherited. Amateur reindeer herders help "professional reindeer herders" in whatever way they can, that is, they participate in the search for reindeer in the forest and gathering them into a herd. Professionals, in turn, are harsh Lapland men, usually middle-aged or older.

In this sense, Ari with his friend Sampo - a kind of exception, a new wave of young reindeer herders.

However, the father is nearby and helps in every possible way with advice, because his experience has been calculated for decades.

In the work of a reindeer herder, a lot of different factors must be taken into account, which we are not even aware of! Ari carefully studies the herd, thinks about which deer will continue the race.

There are also women among the reindeer herders. They work on equal terms with men. We have already talked about, which, in combination, is also a master in the production of souvenirs from a deer antler.

A very young generation of reindeer herders is also growing. In general, the corral works of local reindeer herders are more reminiscent of a large family gathering. The families know each other well. The event is attended by wives and children.

Previously, reindeer herders used skis, but now they also use cars, and in winter snowmobiles. Shepherd dogs are effective even now, as they are indispensable helpers. deer joint forces reindeer herders are herded into special ready-made fences that are scattered throughout the region. In the forest, deer of different owners are mixed and herded into one large paddock.

To begin with, the most violent individuals are removed from the herd - alpha males. This is done in the traditional way by throwing a lasso. The males are now bubbling with blood in anticipation of the romantic season, so they can harm the herders with their horns.

The first one went!

However, this is not an easy task - to drag a hippo out of the swamp to tame the reindeer.

How many reindeer herders does it take to handle an adult reindeer? Alpha males are released and then continue their work of spreading love throughout the herd.

It's time for our hero to throw a lasso.

This succeeds on the second attempt and the deer with the most beautiful antlers is separated from the herd. Comrade insures just in case.

After the leaders of the gang are removed, small groups of deer are cut off from the herd for convenient work. It happens very simply, but in an efficient way. A canvas is stretched, which limits the space of movement and creates a small corridor.

About a dozen deer run into a small paddock.

This is where deer sorting takes place.

The most important thing is to determine who owns the deer. The owner's mark is on the deer's ears: in early age small pieces are cut off from the ears and as a result a unique profile is obtained, which an experienced reindeer herder can distinguish for tens of meters. Every reindeer herder has his own unique way of doing it. The pattern on the left and right ear is not mirrored and the mark is the sum of the left and right ear profiles. Young deer, still without a mark, are identified by their mother, then the deer is assigned the same mark as the parent. Reindeer herders say that reindeer do not get hurt when they put a mark.

This is where the selection of deer for meat takes place. In Lapland, they eat the meat of young deer that have not yet reached puberty. Thanks to this, the meat is very tender and does not have a too strong (sometimes even bitter) taste. Reindeer meat is really delicious! It is worth, for example, to go to Rovaniemi to try it. We will omit photographs of butchering deer, although there is nothing immoral in this action. So did the inhabitants of Lapland and the indigenous peoples of the north of Russia for centuries. Reindeer herders can slaughter the reindeer on the spot themselves or send the reindeer to a special point. The meat of deer slaughtered by a reindeer herder is usually bought by locals and prepared by themselves, but such meat cannot be fed in a restaurant by law. This does not mean that the reindeer breeder does it badly, on the contrary, such a method is more humane than at a meat station, and even more so in those places where cows, pigs, etc. are bred. Simply, in European Union there are laws that do not take into account such specifics as the Lapland reindeer herders. In restaurants and shops, that is, only official and certified meat is served to customers. Since there are relatively few reindeer, about 90,000 heads are slaughtered every year, the price of reindeer meat is expensive. At least demand always exceeds supply. Locals buy a butchered carcass from reindeer herders for 9-12€ per kilogram (including bones). Meat from the slaughterhouse costs closer to 20€ per kilogram, but it is already often packed and butchered. Chilled and frozen deer meat is almost impossible to buy in a regular supermarket. It is redeemed by wholesalers, mainly for the restaurant industry, but you can buy dried meat or semi-finished products (sausage, smoked meat). When deer meat reaches supermarkets, the price for it reaches 50-60 € / kg, however, of course, without taking into account the weight of the bones.

A special record is kept of how many and whose reindeer are slaughtered and how many are released. Each oval in the index card - This is a template for applying a unique brand of a reindeer herder.

The strongest individuals are selected for procreation. They are required to be vaccinated by a veterinarian right there on the spot.

Released deer are marked with a special mark on the skin so as not to catch them twice. It does not hurt, because it does not reach the skin, and the pattern will disappear with the next molt.

Some deer receive "prophylaxis". From this deer they decided to make an athlete for deer races, so he is "helped" to prematurely lose his antlers, otherwise they can damage during training, but this is done very rarely. Deer usually shed their antlers. This occurs immediately after the mating season, that is, in winter. At this time, male deer do not need antlers. They only make the reindeer heavier and prevent them from moving in deep snow. Females leave their horns in winter, because in spring they give birth to babies and they need protection from predators. The antlers help to push the male deer so that they do not get in the way under their feet. In summer, the antlers grow back. This happens quite quickly, as blood circulates in the horns. At this time, the deer are vulnerable, because if the horn is severely damaged, the deer can die from blood loss. They are protected only by a delicate "suede" layer of fur. In summer, the antlers grow a centimeter a day, but by autumn the circulation stops and the antlers begin to ossify. The layer of fur falls off and in October the deer again have bone antlers.

Sorted reindeer are kept in the so-called "offices" (this is what "konttori" sounds like in Finnish). Road to life!

While the deer are being sorted, the young males measure themselves.

Of course, they will not yet defeat adult males, but their hour will come. You just need to let go of the horns for a couple of years. Every year males grow more and more horns.

To live well!

The wise deer has already seen a lot.

- Let's fight again!

It's time to return. On the way home, we met deer released earlier.

This is how the everyday life of Lapland reindeer herders goes!

If you liked the story, read more stories

It is hard to imagine Finland without the legendary Yolupukki on a reindeer sleigh, who lives in the Arctic Circle. For the sake of reindeer and snow, thousands of tourists from all over the world flock to Lapland every year.

But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to combine a developed infrastructure and centuries-old traditions without loss. In addition, in the northern region of Finland, the number of carnivorous wild animals has increased greatly over the past three years.
Local residents of Lapland have been sounding the alarm for several years - the number of deer is sharply decreasing every year. This year, reduced supply of venison is comparable to the situation in 2000, when extreme weather made the animals starve.

To this day, reindeer herding in Finnish Lapland is supported by hereditary reindeer herders, so half-wild reindeer walking around can be found right on the roadway. However, they should not be touched - they are semi-wild, that is, having an owner, they graze on their own throughout the Lapland tundra.

Spectacular reindeer races, well known among tourists, are held in all six districts of Lapland, usually in places largest concentration vacationers. As a rule, Lappish souvenirs depict a horned reindeer - a symbol of northern Finland, which gave birth to the world famous brand for the Lapland people.

Lapland reindeer herders have become part of the national Sami culture, which has been mentioned in written sources since the beginning of the 1600s. Even under the Swedish king Charles IX, a decree was issued on domestication wild breeds reindeer in northern Finland. Since ancient times, deer have been of commercial importance and have been used as a means of transportation. The experience of breeding deer is inherited. The children of reindeer herders are taught from an early age to follow the horned beauties, receiving a part of the deer as a gift from their father and their own sign for marking them. Reindeer are not kept in paddocks: they move freely throughout Lapland.

Reindeer are the property of the reindeer breeder, so hunting for them is prohibited in the country. The owner's well-being depends on the number of individuals, therefore, when asked about the size of the herd, the reindeer herder usually answers that he has "deer run on both sides of the tree." In the warm season, reindeer herders prepare food for the winter in the form of hay and dry branches. In autumn, the owners collect the deer in special fences, where they are counted and sorted. Fawns born in spring are branded with the owner's mark. The young are set free. In an unmarked baby, it is not difficult to determine the owner-reindeer breeder, since he always follows his mother.

You get used to the reindeer roaming freely on the roads of Lapland already during the first day of the trip. There are so many of them that it is impossible to drive through and not see a single reindeer, especially in summer. Knowing the habits of wild animals, Laplanders strongly advise tourists to drastically slow down at the sight of deer standing on the side of the road, because they can rush at full speed right under the wheels of the car, trying in such an absurd way to turn off the road or run to their relatives. It happens that there are several horned handsome men who have lost their leader in the middle of the road. However, it will not be possible to feed or stroke them - reindeer have a wild disposition.

Representatives of the Finnish Lapland breed of reindeer change their antlers every year in the spring. This species of animals is characterized by a beautiful crown on the head of both the male and the female. It happens that the growth of horns in males reaches two centimeters per day. The shedding of antlers is accompanied by deer fights. Another feature of this breed of reindeer is also the presence of skin on the horns. In autumn, the skin begins to peel off from them, hanging in pieces from the bare horns. In autumn, male deer begin mating season, they behave especially aggressively towards humans.
Delicious reindeer meat is present in the assortment of all stores in Lapland. It is sold in frozen, smoked and canned forms. At restaurants, tourists are offered at least five different dishes of venison, presenting guests national cuisine. By the way, I myself personally tried smoked venison soup in cream in Rovaniemi - you will lick your fingers!

The cost of reindeer meat is extremely high, especially when transported to central and southern Finland through suppliers. A whole reindeer carcass or half can be bought directly from Lapland producers for only ten euros per kilogram, so local one is not a Laplander without a large separate freezer, because from this treasury they get frozen venison, elk, fish and berries throughout the year.

Today, there are 56 reindeer herding farms in Finnish Lapland, covering about 114,000 sq. m. As a result of the reduction in the number of livestock, only 80,000 deer were sent for slaughter this year from all farms, and this figure is lowered annually. Let me remind you that in 2010 the number of slaughtered cattle was more than 100,000 pieces, and in 2005 the reindeer herders experienced their best years, having the opportunity to slaughter 124.153 animals.

Experts see the reason for the decrease in the number of deer in the contradiction between the provision of favorable conditions for the development of tourism in Lapland and the expectation of a stable supply of venison from reindeer farms. Numerous tourist areas are narrowing the reindeer pastures, leaving scarce territories for the animals to feed. Tracking and hunting predators is limited by strict regulations. Many researchers see the problem of the crisis in reindeer husbandry not only in numerous predators and poor pastures, but also in oversized herds that do not have enough food in the territory allotted to them.

From a financial point of view, compulsory feeding of reindeer has become difficult for reindeer herders. Since the process of feeding animals under conditions wildlife is mechanized, then the reindeer breeder must own a car, a motor sleigh and an ATV. Rising fuel prices and the use and maintenance of expensive technical equipment sometimes limit the frequency of winter feeding.

The decline in the number of reindeer herds is directly related to the increase in the number of predators in Lapland. Last year alone, more than 5,000 deer went missing as a result of attacks by large carnivores, which means that reindeer meat prices are likely to rise by up to 20-30% in the near future. In addition to the reindeer herders themselves, the reduction in the supply of venison and the change in its cost are mainly concerned about the chefs of restaurants in Finland and companies involved in the processing of reindeer skins.

Public policy legally protects the carnivorous animals of Lapland by paying compensation to reindeer owners in monetary terms based on evidence found from the reindeer. However, the Lapland reindeer herders believe that these amounts do not cover the costs. From their point of view, the number of predatory animals should be controlled.

Today, a reindeer breeder has the right to get even with a specific predator that causes significant damage to him, only with the consent of the relevant nature protection authorities.
By the way, the capture of the beast is carried out at the expense of own funds hunter. So, recently, in the Salla region, they unsuccessfully searched for a wolf that killed more than ten deer.

Statistics show that at least one hundred wolverines roam the territory of reindeer farms, which are endangered, and it is forbidden by law to catch them. In addition to wolverines, in the Lapland forests, bears are not averse to eating venison, which, according to average estimates, are 200-300 pieces, a hundred lynxes and hundreds of hungry wolves that migrated from Russia and other regions of Finland closer to reindeer farms.

In this material we want to tell you about the Finnish deer. For many centuries in a row, people and deer in Finland have been living next to each other. Therefore, it is not surprising that this particular animal has become a symbol of Lapland, and its population is approximately equal to the population of this northern region. But still, man could only half tame him. The Finnish deer lives in temperate forests, feeds on moss and plants. It must be said that in the wild, he can live on average up to 12 years, in captivity this figure increases and can reach about 20 years. A lot of Finnish reindeer die under the wheels of cars, so in Finland you can often see the corresponding car signs on the roads.

Farmers and animal protectors are doing their best to protect them from death. For example, their horns are covered with a reflective agent, and special barrier nets are stretched along the perimeter of the roads so that animals cross the roadway only in specially designated places. Note that a collision with them is very dangerous and the driver should always be on the alert. Finnish deer are not afraid of cold weather and calmly withstand low sub-zero temperatures. They are reliably protected by thick warm fur, which is not afraid of even -50 degrees.

Some are made from horns medications. As for milk, it is the most valuable of all mammals. It contains 19% milk fat, for comparison, cow's average contains about 4%. A lot of delicious dishes and products are prepared from meat, which you should definitely try when you come to Finland. Someone is fond of snowmobile safaris, and among the Scandinavians, one of the favorite winter activities is reindeer racing. A person gets on skis, clings to a team and follows the animal.

Photo: Manfred Werner / Wikimedia Commons

Such races are organized quite often, the routes are different and the route can pass through several settlements. Such competitions are always expected in every corner of the country, because it is believed that these people bring good luck with them. There are many special farms in Finland that many tourists like to visit. They listen to the stories of the farm owners, feed the animals with reindeer moss, watch them, and also ride reindeer sleds. Programs, as well as the prices of such tours, are very different.

But for the majority of the population of Lapland, who live especially in the north, reindeer herding is considered one of the main sources of income. It should be noted that each Finnish reindeer belongs to some reindeer breeder. Twice a year the animals are lured into pens to count the herd and brand the young. Even the Finnish Santa Claus chose this inhabitant as his assistant northern latitudes. Any little Finn can easily list the names of each deer from the big Christmas nine.