In Finland, reindeer die from nets and litter left in nature — YLE News
In Finland, reindeer regularly become entangled in fishing nets, ropes and other litter left behind by people, and some animals subsequently have to be euthanized. YLE News reports.
Reindeer herder Osmo Seurujärvi from the Muddusjärvi reindeer herding district said that every year he finds one of his reindeer entangled in items left behind by people. This autumn, a reindeer belonging to his child was entangled in a large fishing trap for several days. The animal was freed, but it did not recover after the incident and had to be euthanized.
The reindeer had a GPS collar that normally sends an alert if the animal does not move for a long time. Seurujärvi suggested that the reindeer first got caught on a rope and was able to move enough, so the system did not send a signal. It was already the second such case among his reindeer this autumn. According to the reindeer herder, people most often compensate for the loss of animals if they became entangled in nets left behind.
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Possible compensation for damages
Doctor of Law Sampo Mielityinen, who specializes in compensation for damages, noted that Finland's Waste Act prohibits leaving litter or objects in a way that could injure animals. In his view, violating the ban on littering may indicate negligence and become grounds for compensation.
At the same time, Mielityinen said liability should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The owner of a fishing net will likely be liable if a reindeer becomes entangled in it even on private property and has to be euthanized as a result.
Reindeer herders urge people to report trapped animals
Hanna Nurmi, head of the Association of Reindeer Herding Districts, urged people to remove litter and equipment from nature. She stressed that during the rutting season, when reindeer rub their antlers, the risk of becoming entangled increases. Reindeer herder Johanna Alatorvinen also spoke about reindeer becoming entangled in nets, ropes, wire, tape and electric fences. Her family managed to free one reindeer after receiving reports from people who saw the animal near a road.
